The collapse of the politics of inevitability ushers in another experience of time: the politics of eternity.

Lacking a functional state that assured basic social goods taken for granted elsewhere-education, pensions, health care, transport, parental leave, vacations-Americans could be overwhelmed by each day, and lose a sense of the future. “As economic inequality grew, time horizons shrank, and fewer Americans believed that the future held a better version of the present. “Americans and Europeans were guided through the new century by a tale about ‘the end of history,’ by what I will call the politics of inevitability, a sense that the future is just more of the present, that the laws of progress are known, that there are no alternatives, and therefore nothing really to be done.” p. Nothing says it better than the author’s own words. He explains two key concepts, through the lens of mostly recent history. The Road to Unfreedom isn’t an easy read, but it helps make sense of the chaos. Snyder covers plenty of historical and current events ground. Recently, I knew the time for this book had come. The time needs to feel right for me to start a book I know will challenge me. That’s how my reading goes, especially with historical and political books. I reread that small book, On Tyranny, earlier this year.Įven still, a hardback copy of Snyder’s newer book, The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America sat on my shelf since soon after it published.

When my heart sank deeper, and my protesting voice felt hoarse, I dove into political books looking for answers. I discovered Timothy Snyder, professor and author, in the spring of 2017.

Timothy snyder the road to unfreedom