How to Live When Fascism Looms: Lessons from Yale’s Prof. Timothy Snyder

When democratic systems weaken and authoritarian tendencies rise, the question many ask is simple yet urgent: How should we live?

💡The People Waiting to Wake Up in the Future

Yale University historian Prof. Timothy Snyder offers a set of hard-earned lessons—practical, moral, and deeply human—for those navigating the shadow of rising fascism.

1. Beware Preemptive Obedience

Authoritarian regimes gain much of their power not just through laws or force, but through the voluntary compliance of citizens—often before it is even demanded.
In times of uncertainty, people imagine what the government might want and start behaving accordingly, even when no such order exists. This preemptive obedience signals to those in power how much further they can go, accelerating the loss of freedoms.

The antidote: Resist the urge to self-censor or conform before it is necessary. Do not make the regime’s work easier by doing it for them.

2. Defend the Institutions We Have Left

Institutions—whether a newspaper, school, university, civic organization, or arts center—are the backbone of a free society. They cannot protect themselves. If we do not actively support them, they will collapse like dominoes when authoritarianism strikes.

Buy the newspaper. Attend the meeting. Join the cause. As philosopher Paul Ricoeur reminds us, “A happy life with others is only possible if there are just institutions.” Personal retreat into private life will not bring true happiness; where justice dies, so does shared human flourishing.

3. Hold on to Professional Ethics

In fascist systems, leaders and their allies often act as though they are above the law, rewarding loyalty with the freedom to lie, plunder, or abuse. This is when professional ethics become a shield.
A lawyer who insists on fair process, a judge who resists political pressure, a journalist who refuses to distort facts—all make it harder for the rule of law to collapse. Institutions exist because people uphold them.

When asked to do wrong, ethics give you the language—and the courage—to say no.

4. Listen to the Language of Power

Pay close attention to how politicians use certain words. Terms like “terrorist”, “traitor”, “emergency”, or “security threat” can be stretched to justify almost anything—from silencing dissent to criminalizing peaceful protest.
A peaceful signature on a petition, an article share on social media, or a symbolic gesture can be reframed as a threat to the state.

Stay alert: Ask what these words really mean, who they are applied to, and why.

5. Do Not Be Manipulated by Fear

Shocking acts of violence—bombings, mass shootings, or terrorist attacks—often cause people to trade freedom for the promise of security. Authoritarian regimes exploit or even stage such crises to consolidate power.
Remember the Reichstag fire of 1933: Hitler used it to dismantle Germany’s democratic structures. Fear makes people accept extraordinary powers for leaders and extraordinary restrictions for themselves.

Mourn, but think. Grieve, but resist.

6. Protect the Integrity of Your Language

Do not repeat the slogans and speech patterns of those who promote hatred or authoritarianism. Language shapes reality; the words you choose influence how both you and others think.
Develop a vocabulary that reflects curiosity, compassion, and critical thinking. Resist the urge to use insults or dehumanizing language—especially when angry. Read books that sharpen your mind and deepen your perspective, from Orwell’s 1984 to Havel’s The Power of the Powerless.

7. Speak Up—With Courage and Care

Silence in the face of lies makes you complicit. Speaking truth, even carefully and strategically, strengthens both your character and the moral fabric of society.
Courage is not recklessness—it is measured truth-telling at the right time, in the right way. Remember: fear is already part of everyone’s daily life under such regimes. Your willingness to speak up can inspire others to do the same, breaking the spell of the silent majority.

8. Believe in Truth

In times of propaganda and mass disinformation, the search for truth is exhausting—but essential. When power organizes lies on an industrial scale, many people stop caring about facts altogether. This cynicism is itself a victory for authoritarianism.

Compare sources. Read between the lines. Pay attention to personal testimonies and first-hand accounts. Without truth, there is no ground for criticism—only spectacle, manipulation, and the rule of the loudest and richest.

• Prof. Snyder’s advice is not a set of abstract principles—it is a survival manual for democracy itself. Living under the shadow of fascism requires discipline, community, courage, and a stubborn refusal to surrender to fear or cynicism.Freedom dies when people believe nothing can be done. It survives when enough of us act as though it can.