In 2017, hisÂtoÂriÂan TimÂoÂthy SnyÂder wrote the conÂcise book On TyranÂny: TwenÂty Lessons from the TwenÂtiÂeth CenÂtuÂry, which went on to become a New York Times bestÂseller. A hisÂtoÂriÂan of fasÂcism (then at Yale, now at U. ToronÂto), SnyÂder wantÂed to offer AmerÂiÂcans a useÂful guide for resistÂing the counÂtry’s drift towards authorÂiÂtarÂiÂanÂism. It was handy then and even handÂiÂer now–especially as the feds bear down on difÂferÂent instiÂtuÂtions underÂgirdÂing AmerÂiÂcan civÂil sociÂety. Law firms, uniÂverÂsiÂties, corÂpoÂraÂtions, media outlets–they’re all getÂting squeezed, and many have already vioÂlatÂed the first of SnyÂder’s 20 lessons: “Do not obey in advance.” Above, you can hear actor John LithÂgow read a conÂdensed verÂsion of SnyÂder’s lessons. You can order a copy of his book online, or explore here a relatÂed video series that SnyÂder proÂduced a few years back. Find a cheat sheet below.
1. Do not obey in advance
2. Defend instiÂtuÂtions
3. Beware the one-parÂty state
4. Take responÂsiÂbilÂiÂty for the face of the world
5. RememÂber proÂfesÂsionÂal ethics
6. Be wary of paraÂmilÂiÂtaries
7. Be reflecÂtive if you must be armed
8. Stand out
9. Be kind to our lanÂguage
10. Believe in truth
11. InvesÂtiÂgate
12. Make eye conÂtact and small talk
13. PracÂtice corÂpoÂreÂal polÂiÂtics
14. EstabÂlish a priÂvate life
15. ConÂtribute to good causÂes
16. Learn from peers in othÂer counÂtries
17. LisÂten for danÂgerÂous words
18. Be calm when the unthinkÂable arrives
19. Be a patriÂot
20. Be as couraÂgeous as you can
RelatÂed ConÂtent
UmberÂto Eco’s List of the 14 ComÂmon FeaÂtures of FasÂcism
Toni MorÂriÂson Lists the 10 Steps That Lead CounÂtries to FasÂcism (1995)
SomeÂone has broÂken into your house and is still there a month latÂer; they decidÂed to stay; and you’re lookÂing around the corÂner timidÂly wonÂderÂing whether mediocre selecÂtion of tea might make them go away.
It’s a tad late to disÂobey, espeÂcialÂly when you don’t realÂly mean anyÂthing by that. You might have to risk your life to make things betÂter.
The life of everyÂone month supÂportÂing Trump is at risk, and even lives of some the rest.
“One-parÂty state.”
You mean like CalÂiÂforÂnia?
WhatÂevÂer your politÂiÂcal views, it’s clear that CalÂiÂforÂnia don’t appear to be disÂapÂpearÂing peoÂple to forÂeign prisÂons indefÂiÂniteÂly or detainÂing anyÂone withÂout the most basic due process.
Only the tyrants will obfusÂcate responÂsiÂbilÂiÂty. Blame CalÂiÂforÂnia when they try to run from the realÂiÂty they creÂatÂed
Jim — outÂside of the large cities, CalÂiÂforÂnia is extremeÂly red. It just hapÂpens that a lot of peoÂple live in big cities, because, you know, they’re big cities.
But why would you care about the truth? Your leadÂers just want you to mindÂlessÂly spout canned phrasÂes and subÂmit like a good dog — so that’s what you’ll do.