LESSON 3: Beware The One-Party State

Summary

Historian Timothy Snyder discusses the importance of vigilance against the one-party state in his video series on 'On Tyranny.' He emphasizes the necessity of supporting a multi-party system and democratic elections to prevent the manipulation of political systems for one party's gain. Snyder warns that as parties focus on rigging the system, they lose touch with the electorate and become less capable of genuine competition. He calls for a truly democratic system where each person has an equal and practical ability to vote, fostering better political parties and a legacy of pride for future generations.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker, Timothy Snyder, is a historian and author of 'On Tyranny', a book that discusses the dangers of authoritarianism.
• 🆕 Snyder has updated 'On Tyranny' to reflect recent events and is releasing a new, illustrated edition in October 2021.
• 🔑 The book contains 20 lessons about the nature of tyranny, which remain unchanged despite updates to the text to account for current events.
• ⚠️ Lesson three warns about the dangers of a one-party state, where a party suppresses rivals and makes political life impossible for opposition.
• 🗳️ Snyder emphasizes the importance of supporting a multi-party system and defending democratic elections, including local and state elections.
• 🏛️ He calls for individuals to consider running for office to strengthen democratic processes.
• 🌐 Snyder stresses that the issues of democracy and anti-democracy are not partisan, and the temptations to move away from democracy are timeless.
• 🔄 The longer a party focuses on rigging the system rather than campaigning for votes on policies, the less democratic it becomes.
• 🚫 As a party becomes adept at manipulating elections, it creates second-class citizens by making voting easier for some and harder for others, increasing the potential for violence.
• 👥 Excluding people from the electoral system can lead to them seeking other ways to be heard, as seen in the historical context and recent events like January 6, 2021.
• 🌟 Snyder concludes with an optimistic note, suggesting that a truly democratic system with equal voting rights for all would improve politics and lead to better political parties for future generations.

Q & A

Who is Timothy Snyder and what is he known for?

Timothy Snyder is a historian and author known for his books, including 'On Tyranny.'

What is the purpose of Timothy Snyder's new video series?

The purpose of the new video series is to discuss the updated text of 'On Tyranny' and its new illustrated edition, reflecting on the 20 lessons within the book.

What is the main theme of the third lesson in Snyder's video series?

The main theme of the third lesson is to beware the one-party state and the importance of supporting a multi-party system and democratic elections.

Why did Timothy Snyder update the text of 'On Tyranny'?

Snyder updated the text to account for events that have occurred in recent years and to prepare for the book's new edition in October 2021.

What does Snyder argue about the nature of parties that remade states and suppressed rivals?

Snyder argues that such parties were not omnipotent from the start but exploited a historic moment to make political life impossible for their opponents.

What is the danger of a political party focusing on rigging the system rather than campaigning for votes?

A party that focuses on rigging the system ceases to campaign for votes on policies, leading to a decline in their ability to connect with the population and create meaningful policies.

How does the pursuit of a one-party system lead to potential violence, according to Snyder?

The pursuit of a one-party system can lead to violence as it excludes people from the electoral process, leading them to seek other means to make their voices heard, and by creating a sense of perpetual victory among its supporters.

What historical event does Snyder reference to illustrate the dangers of a one-party state?

Snyder references the events of January 6, 2021, as an example of the potential for violence in a one-party state.

What is the core principle that Snyder believes should be upheld to maintain a healthy democracy?

The core principle is that each person should have one vote, with the formal right and practical ability to exercise that vote equally.

What is the optimistic outcome Snyder envisions if the system were to become more democratic?

Snyder envisions better political parties that campaign on platforms, producing better policies and leaving a legacy that future generations can be proud of.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to 'On Tyranny'

Timothy Snyder, a historian and author, introduces a new video series discussing his book 'On Tyranny'. He mentions that the book has been updated to reflect recent events and will be republished in October 2021 with illustrations by Laura Krug. Snyder emphasizes the book's 20 lessons that remain unchanged, despite updates to the text to account for new events. He highlights the importance of supporting a multi-party system and defending democratic elections, encouraging participation in local and state elections and considering running for office. Snyder stresses that the issues of democracy and anti-democracy are not partisan, and the temptations that lead away from democracy are timeless and universal.

05:00

⚖️ Beware the One-Party State

In the second paragraph, Snyder warns about the dangers of a one-party state. He explains how parties that suppress rivals and remake states do not start as all-powerful but exploit historical moments to make political life impossible for opponents. He discusses the transformation of a party that rigs the system, noting that such a party ceases to campaign for votes on policies and instead focuses on gaming the system. This behavior, he argues, leads to a decline in the party's ability to connect with the population and develop relevant policies. Over time, such a party becomes dependent on a single-party system, as it cannot afford to lose rigged elections. Snyder also points out the potential for violence that arises when people are excluded from the electoral process, as seen in the events of January 6, 2021. He concludes by advocating for a truly democratic system where each person has an equal and practical ability to vote, which would improve the quality of political parties and the political process as a whole.

Keywords

💡On Tyranny

On Tyranny is a political pamphlet by Timothy Snyder, which serves as the central theme of the video. The book discusses the warning signs and mechanisms of the rise of authoritarianism and dictatorships. In the video, Snyder mentions that he has updated the text to reflect recent events and is releasing a new edition, indicating the continued relevance of the book's lessons in contemporary times.

💡Multi-party system

The multi-party system refers to a political environment where multiple political parties can compete for power. Snyder emphasizes the importance of supporting this system and defending democratic elections as a safeguard against the rise of a single-party state, which can lead to the suppression of political rivals and the erosion of democratic norms. He calls for participation in local and state elections to maintain the health of the multi-party system.

💡Democratic elections

Democratic elections are the process by which citizens choose their leaders in a democratic system. Snyder argues that defending the rules of democratic elections is crucial to prevent the rise of a one-party state. He warns that when parties rig the system, they stop campaigning for votes on policies and instead focus on maintaining power, which is detrimental to democracy.

💡One-party state

A one-party state is a political system where a single political party holds all power and suppresses opposition. Snyder discusses the dangers of such a state, where political life becomes impossible for opponents, and elections become mere rituals to maintain power. He uses the concept to caution against the manipulation of electoral systems and the exclusion of certain groups from the political process.

💡Rigging the system

Rigging the system refers to the manipulation of political, electoral, or legal processes to gain an unfair advantage. Snyder explains that when a party focuses on rigging the system, it stops engaging with the public on policy issues and becomes increasingly adept at maintaining power through undemocratic means, which is a threat to democratic principles.

💡Gerrymandering

Gerrymandering is the practice of manipulating electoral boundaries to favor one party. Snyder mentions that different political parties in the United States have engaged in gerrymandering at various points, which undermines the fairness of elections and contributes to the erosion of democratic processes.

💡Equal right to vote

The equal right to vote is a fundamental democratic principle that ensures all citizens have an equal opportunity to participate in elections. Snyder argues that this right must be more than just a formal statement; it must also ensure the practical ability for all citizens to vote without barriers. He connects this to the broader theme of ensuring a truly democratic system.

💡Partisan

Partisan refers to a strong, often biased, support for a particular political party. Snyder stresses that the issues he discusses, such as the dangers of a one-party state and the importance of democratic processes, are not partisan matters. He implies that the threats to democracy are universal and can affect any political party, emphasizing the need for a non-partisan approach to uphold democratic values.

💡Violence

In the context of the video, violence is discussed as a potential outcome when democratic processes are undermined, such as through the exclusion of certain groups from the electoral system. Snyder points to the January 6, 2021, events in the United States as an example of how the erosion of democratic norms can lead to violent resistance.

💡Political parties

Political parties are organized groups of people who share similar political views and work to promote their agenda. Snyder discusses the importance of having strong, competitive political parties that campaign on platforms and policies. He argues that a truly democratic system would benefit from parties that are proud of their policies and do not resort to undemocratic tactics to maintain power.

Highlights

Timothy Snyder, a historian and author of 'On Tyranny', is creating a video series to discuss the book's updated edition.

The book 'On Tyranny' is being released in a new edition in October 2021, featuring illustrations by Nora Krug.

Snyder emphasizes that the 20 lessons from the book remain unchanged, despite updates to the text to reflect recent events.

Lesson number three focuses on the dangers of the one-party state and the importance of supporting a multi-party system.

Snyder argues that parties which suppress rivals and remake states do so by exploiting historical moments.

He calls for the defense of democratic election rules and the importance of voting in local and state elections.

Snyder stresses that the struggle for democracy is not a partisan issue and has been understood for thousands of years.

Rigging the system leads to parties ceasing to campaign democratically and focusing on gaining elections rather than policies.

As parties become adept at gaming the system, they become worse at engaging with the public and creating relevant policies.

Snyder explains that rigged elections lead to a belief in a single-party system, as rigged parties cannot afford fair elections.

He warns that excluding people from the electoral system creates potential for violence, as seen in the January 6, 2021, insurrection.

Snyder calls for a belief in the principle that each person has one vote and the practical ability to exercise that vote.

He concludes by stating that having a truly democratic system with fair competition would be better for all parties involved.

Snyder suggests that improving the democratic system could lead to better political parties that future generations can be proud of.

The video series aims to reflect on the lessons of 'On Tyranny' and their implications for the future of democracy.

Transcripts

[Music]

i'm timothy snyder i'm a historian i'm

the author of on tyranny and some other

books what i'm talking about today is on

tyranny i'm i'm uh i'm creating a new

little series of video discussions about

on tyranny my political pamphlet from a

few years ago

the reason that i'm doing this is that

i've updated the text of the book to

take account for what's happened in the

last few years but more importantly the

reason i'm doing this is that on tyranny

is appearing again

in a new edition in october of 2021

new because illustrated

new because much more beautiful and

interesting thanks to the work of laura

krug so this project that nora and i

have been doing together comes to

fruition this fall and this is the

occasion for me to take a moment to

think back about the 20 lessons which

remain unchanged i've changed some of

the text after them to take into account

new events the 20 lessons themselves

remain unchanged so this is an occasion

for me to

think back to the 20 lessons and to

think forward about what they're going

to mean in the months and years to come

this is the the third little video in

this series which i'm going to call i

think timothy snyder speaks about on

tyranny

so we're doing lesson number three

lesson number three is

beware the one party state

the parties that remade states

and suppressed rivals

were not omnipotent from the start

they exploited a historic moment to make

political life impossible for their

opponents

so

support the multi-party system

and defend the rules of democratic

elections

vote in local and state elections while

you can

consider running for office

now

for me

it's it's very important that

democracy

and

anti-democracy

is not a partisan affair

the temptations that lead us

or our political leaders

or

the leaders away from democracy

are old and have been understood in fact

for

a couple

thousand years

the the reasons why

one party

or another party

can cease to campaign

democratically are pretty much always

the same

over time

i'm going to explain the way the dynamic

works

it works like this

if you become a party

that

rigs the system

i'm talking about america but i don't

have to be

we know this from examples

modern examples from the last hundred

years

if you become a party that rigs the

system

you cease to become a party that

campaigns for votes on policies

so basically you have a choice

sure

parties are going to campaign hard

parties are going to use the rules as

best they can but when your main issue

is

rigging the system

when your main concern is not the

population

but

how you're going to gain the elections

then you cease to become a democratic

party and this works over time

the longer

and the better you get at gaming the

system

the worse you are at actually speaking

to people and coming up with policies

that speak to them so you're making a

choice the further you go down the road

of gaming the system the further away

you are from being democratic not just

beca not just because you're gaming the

system but because you're ever less good

at actually

competing so

how does this work then after a certain

point

you as a political party

have to believe in

a single party system because you can't

afford to have elections

you know that in non-gamed elections

non-rigged elections elections where you

didn't make or exploit the rules you

would lose so you you can't afford to

have

normal elections you start to take for

granted that elections in some way are

just a ritual

to keep you your people the right people

as you see it in power

you start to say for example that

you always win

you tell the lie that you always win

your party always wins you say that as

of course mr trump and

a number of his allies

said in the year 2020

um

you you you start to talk about

elections has just been something that

you win that's that's the definition of

an election

as you're doing this of course you're

you're changing the rules as hard as you

can and perhaps most dangerously you're

sculpting the electorate you're creating

second-class citizens you're making it

easier for some people to vote and

harder for other people to vote if it's

the united states in 2021 you're

probably pretty careful about how you

talk about what you're doing

but you're doing it all the same you're

making it easier for some people to vote

and harder for other people to vote

as you exclude people from the electoral

system you're creating potential for

violence in two different ways

one is that people don't like to be

excluded and again one doesn't have to

talk about the united states here it is

a general tendency apparent from history

if you push people out of elections if

you push people out of an electoral

system

if you deny them a voice in a democracy

they will seek other ways to make their

voices heard

but

as we saw on january 6 2021 you're also

making violence more likely in another

way

because as you push some people out of

the system

you're teaching other people that they

always win

you're teaching other people that

elections are the same thing as their

winning

you're making it harder and harder for

your people as mr trump put it to

distinguish between there being an

election and

and winning and that also makes violence

more likely because it means that when

if an election doesn't go the way of

your party

people people will resist violently

as we have already seen

right it's so easy when talking when

when pronouncing these words and perhaps

for you and listening to them to think

about this as hypothetical as political

science but

we just watched this all play out we

watch the scenario play out step by step

word by word in the 2020 american

presidential election we may not want to

look hard at it we may want to turn away

we want to imagine they want to imagine

the future is going to be better but

this this just happened

so

to beware the one party state

what we have to be able to do is believe

seriously in the simple principle that

each person has one vote

and having a vote means not just the

formal right to exercise the vote but

also the practical ability to vote

an equal right to vote means nothing if

it's just a statement on a piece of

paper an equal right had to vote has to

mean that regardless of where you are

and who you are

as a citizen it will be easy for you to

vote

i'm going to close right again

this is not

partisan

different political parties in the

united states have

gerrymandered and exploited and and

mocked the rules or warped the rules or

broke the rules at different points in

time

we are all vulnerable to this logic the

logic that if you move away from

competing you become worse at competing

the logic that as you move towards

rigging the system you become better at

rigging the system and before you know

it that's all you know about politics

we're all vulnerable to that that's not

a partisan point to whom it's happening

is important and they should be named

but the the issue

is not a partisan one and the issue has

an upside the issue has an optimistic

outcome which is

if we had a system that was truly

democratic

if we could avoid the risks that are now

built into our system and pushed by one

of our political parties to create a

one-party state

that would be better for everyone

it would be better

morally and eventually politically for

both of our parties to be campaigning on

platforms

it's it's a bad thing when one party

doesn't have a platform and one of our

parties doesn't

if if if we change the system such that

each person did have a vote not just

formally but practically

and both parties or more parties were

really competing on policies that would

be better for everyone if we can change

the rules such that we are avoiding the

risks if we can change the rules such

that we are moving towards becoming more

of a democracy that's not just better

for all of us that's not just better in

terms of the policies it'll produce

it'll also give us better political

parties better political parties that

that our children and our children can

vote for

with pride rather than thinking oh that

was the party that started this armed

insurrection that was the party that

suppressed those votes that was the

party which openly declared it didn't

accept an election result if we can get

the system right then we'll be leaving a

legacy of political parties that we can

look back and be proud of so

but where the one party stay

thank you

[Music]