“On Tyranny, twenty lessons from the 20th century”, by Timothy Snyder, (2017, Crown, 128 pages), presents 20 important principles we can learn from his research of authoritarian regimes of the 20th century.
A quick outline of about half these lessons is presented below. Aside from the title of each lesson, the quotes are directly from the book.
Do not obey in advance – don’t instinctively accept and adopt authoritarian norms
Defend institutions – laws, the media, the courts, unions, etc – can protect us, but must also be protected
Stand out – people need examples to follow, like Rosa Parks
Believe in truth – “To abandon facts is to abandon freedom.”
Investigate – be able to establish truth on your own
Establish a private life – Emphasize personal exchanges (away from the internet) and protect yourself from technical encroachment (malware, security breeches etc)
Contribute to good causes – give your time and your money to organizations that express your view of life
Learn from peers in other countries – Make/maintain friendships in other countries and help each other navigate current difficulties
Listen for dangerous words – extremism, terrorism and the “patriotic vocabulary”
Be calm when the unthinkable arrives – “Modern tyranny is terror management.” Beware of the sudden disaster that ‘justifies’ the end of checks and balances and don’t fall for it.
Be a patriot – “Set a good example of what America means for the generations to come. They will need it.”
Be as courageous as you can – “If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die under tyranny.”