The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America

In Chapter 6, Snyder discusses how Vladimir Putin’s regime undermined democratic principles, notably in the US by supporting Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Through cyberwar tactics, Russian propaganda outlets, active on social media, portrayed Trump favorably while disparaging Hillary Clinton, thus advancing Putin’s agenda to weaken American democratic foundations. This manipulation exploited vulnerabilities in American society and politics.

Snyder states that, starting in the 1990s, Trump properties, such as the Trump Tower, supported a significant portion of transactions with individuals or entities linked to the former Soviet Union, which points to a pattern of financial crimes tied to Trump’s real estate. Despite Trump’s public persona as a successful businessman, he was deeply compromised by his reliance on Russian money to sustain his business ventures. This dependence extended into his presidential campaign, as he continued to receive financial support from Russian sources. Snyder argues that this suggests that Russia was aiming to destabilize American society.

The Soviet secret police specializes in “active measures” (223), a strategy aimed at manipulating adversaries into undermining themselves. These tactics became particularly relevant as the digital age evolved, shifting the terrain of international rivalry from physical goods to the psychological manipulation of populations. Snyder argues that, by 2016, Russian operatives exploited the average American citizen through television and social media. This culminated in the cyberwarfare tactics that influenced the US presidential election, positioning Donald Trump—a candidate whose rise was boosted by these tactics—as a manifestation of Russia’s ability to manipulate American perceptions and actions.

In 2015 and 2016, social media platforms were the main ground for Russian cyberwar operations. Russian entities created millions of fake accounts and strategically disseminated propaganda to manipulate public opinion. This effort included sophisticated ad campaigns and the orchestration of real-life events, aiming to exploit political divides and amplify societal tensions. The manipulation was finely tuned to American vulnerabilities, using personal internet activity to target users with content designed to provoke outrage and sway political views. This cyber intrusion culminated in significant electoral interference, underscoring the extensive reach and impact of foreign cyber campaigns on American democracy. The revelation of these tactics has prompted ongoing scrutiny into the security of digital platforms and the integrity of political processes.

Paul Manafort, who had previously worked for Russian-backed Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, became a key advisor in Trump’s 2016 campaign. He had deep ties to Russian interests, working previously for Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. Manafort, unpaid by Trump, seemed financially motivated, evidenced by his history of substantial debts to Deripaska and offers of private campaign briefings as repayment. His political strategies in the US mirrored those he deployed in Eastern Europe, focusing on stoking cultural and identity politics to influence elections.

Steve Bannon, who succeeded Manafort, further influenced the campaign narrative. Bannon, known for his extreme right-wing ideologies, linked Trump’s campaign discourse with white supremacist movements. Additionally, Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, appeared complicit, having unreported meetings with Russians offering damaging information on Hilary Clinton.

Snyder argues that the collapse of local journalism in the US and a shift toward entertainment-focused national news increased American susceptibility to misinformation, paralleling Russian media practices. This vulnerability was exploited through platforms like Facebook, where news became intertwined with entertainment, diminishing the line between fact and fiction. Russian-backed fake news campaigns deepened political divides, exacerbated existing prejudices, and intensified partisan divisions. The campaigns used crafted messages that mobilized American political biases, ultimately influencing the election outcomes and furthering Russia’s geopolitical agenda.

Snyder links the demise of democracies with the public’s fading belief in the value of voting. He thinks that Russia exploited the loss of faith in democratic processes in its strategic efforts to destabilize American democracy. Russia’s tactics in the 2016 US election involved not only promoting divisive content but also establishing connections with influential US groups like the National Rifle Association (NRA). The broader goal, Snyder argues, was to make America’s political landscape resemble Russia’s—less democratic and more chaotic, reflecting Russia’s internal governance issues and projecting them outward. This strategy aimed to reduce pressure on Russia by normalizing authoritarian tendencies internationally, thus diminishing the prospects for democratic governance in Russia itself.

Snyder thinks that the politics of eternity, as practiced in Russia, has taken root in American political culture. This political approach thrives on creating a perpetual state of crisis, relying on political animosity and nationalistic fervor without real policy reform. In Russia, the top 10% controls most of the wealth, exemplifying deep social inequality and oligarchic dominance. Similarly, in America, Snyder argues, the unchecked flow of oligarchic money into politics, often through secretive financial havens and legal loopholes, perpetuates this cycle. The infamous 2016 meeting at Trump Tower between Trump campaign members and Russian delegates points to the fact that such practices are deeply entrenched, as American and Russian interests have drifted away from democratic ideals toward oligarchic control.

In addition, Snyder argues that the American notion that capitalism inherently leads to democracy has masked the escalating economic disparities within the country, weakened the position of trade unions, and failed to bolster essential public services, contributing to growing inequality since the 1980s. This environment cultivated disillusionment and set the stage for the rise of oligarchic figures, mirroring Russian practices where democracy and law are sidelined for personal gain. This scenario, according to Snyder, has led to a societal malaise where Americans, particularly the younger generation, see diminishing prospects for improving their living standards, making them susceptible to the politics of eternity.

Snyder also uses the surge of opioid addiction in the US during the 2010s as an example of the consequences of the unregulated capitalist mindset that dominates American policy. Oxycontin, a potent opioid, was misleadingly marketed in the mid-1990s as a non-addictive painkiller, leading to widespread abuse and addiction. The crisis particularly devastated regions like Ohio and Kentucky. Snyder draws an analogy between this situation and the societal decay in war-torn areas of Ukraine, like Donbass. Marketing efforts by pharmaceutical companies like Purdue Pharma created an environment where opioids were over-prescribed, fueling a public health disaster that contributed significantly to declining life expectancies and increasing mortality rates among middle-aged white men. This epidemic of despair correlated strongly with political shifts, notably in areas most affected by opioids, which showed increased support for Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

Snyder ends Chapter 6 with a discussion of the rise of the politics of eternity in America, brought to fruition by the leadership of Donald Trump. Snyder argues that Trump’s leadership marks a significant shift driven by disinformation and historical nostalgia. Trump, first depicting himself as a successful businessman, perpetuates lies and undermines the concept of truth. His governance style is focused on creating outrage, leveraging media to polarize and distract. His slogan Make America Great Again stirs up sentiments of a better time, while glossing over important issues of racial and economic inequalities. This political strategy has deepened divisions, turning politics into a spectacle where truth and constructive policy are set aside. This scenario, Snyder reflects, reveals the manipulation of public perception, where political gains are made by appealing to nostalgia and fear, steering the public away from democratic engagement and toward authoritarian acceptance.