How to stop politics from controlling your emotions | Tim Snyder | Big Think

How to stop politics from controlling your emotions
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Has the constant barrage of political news got you down? Yale University historian Timothy Snyder reminds us that looking at things from a historical perspective-and comparing your own perspective to this-can help you from becoming overwhelmed... and keep your emotions in check when you browse your newsfeed. Snyder's most recent book is The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America.
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TIMOTHY SNYDER :
Timothy Snyder is the Levin Professor of History at Yale University and the author of On Tyranny, Black Earth, and Bloodlands. His work has received the literature award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Hannah Arendt Prize, and the Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding. He lives in New Haven, Connecticut.
Snyder's most recent book is The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America.
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TRANSCRIPT:
Timothy Snyder: History is actually the one thing I think which allows you to get out ahead. It’s very ironic, because when people think about history they think, “Well, history means that things are going on in the world and a historian is off reading dusty books,” which, fair enough, I would love to be reading lots of dusty books right now. I will concede the point.
But when you’ve read all those dusty books, what happens is that you have the ability to see certain patterns, you have a sense of what fits together and what doesn’t fit together.
Isaiah Berlin wrote an essay on the possibility of the scientific history, in which he said that “history is not about knowing what happens, it’s about knowing what can’t happen.” That is extremely useful.
So a historian will never look at a problem and say, “This is entirely new,” a historian will look at a problem and try to find the familiar aspects of it.
And that’s a very big advantage over other forms of analysis, because if you look at something and say that it’s totally new, that disables the mind right away, it also tends to disable, I think, political action.
Because if something is totally new it’s very easy to take the next step and say, “Well if it’s totally new then what can I do about it?” Or you can say, “Since it’s totally new all things are permitted,” which can also lead you in some really unproductive direction.
So the first thing the historian will do is we’ll say, “Whatever this problem is, it’s not entirely new.”
When a historian is confronted by something very surprising like the 2016 campaign in the United States, the historian is likely to say, “Well, the things that this candidate is saying aren’t true, but the possibility this kind of campaign could work is a real possibility.”
So the historian is freed from, or should be freed from the conviction of the day, and the historian automatically looks back to other moments where similar things like this coalesced.
So for example, we’re in a second globalization. There was a first globalization in the late 19th and early 20th century. The second globalization began, our globalization began, with all kinds of promises that technology and export-lead growth would lead to enlightenment and liberalism-the first globalization did too. The first globalization crashed. It crashed into the first World War, the Great Depression, the second World War, Stalinism, the Holocaust.
A historian looking at today won’t think “Well that whole pattern is going to repeat itself,” but the historian looking at it today can say, “Yeah, a politician who says that globalization is a problem not a solution, a politician who says that globalization is a matter of particular people plotting against us as opposed to objective threats to the country or objective problems, that kind of politician has a chance. That can work. Things like that have worked before.”
And once you see that it can come together that way, it’s not that you’re sure, it’s not that you predict it (although I have made some predictions that were right), but it’s more that you can see it coming together, and then that allows you to get out ahead, and you can think, “Okay, well, if this is going to come together this way then I can also steal from the past people’s correct reactions to it or people’s wise reactions to it. I can use those things from the failure of the first of globalization, I can just borrow them, I can now extract them and put them in the 21st century,” which is what I did in On Tyranny. So rather than saying, “...
For the full transcript, check out bigthink.com/videos/timothy-s...

[@4G12]

To summarize what he said, it is much easier to keep a level head and stay rational if one does not lose track of the big picture.

[@jessstuart7495]

Some understanding of History is important. The general population's historical knowledge here in the U.S. is abysmal. That kind of ignorance has allowed fascism to obtain a foothold here in the U.S. This is what 40 years of failing public education does to a 1st world society.

[@PianoMan-hx3ev]

@@jessstuart7495 And most educational institutions AREN’T leftist leaning? Best to go back to the drawing table and re-study this so called fascist history. You might want to study horseshoe theory and see that fascism AND communism are very much alike.

[@paytonl3485]

Just don't get involved in a "side" and always be kind to others no matter their beliefs because helping others makes you happy too

[@overloaded4009]

pretty much my fundamentals

[@lexyswope]

But be aware that they might stab you in the back. Be alert.

[@Luzz4136]

How could I be kind to someone who wishes me dead just for being who I am? Serious question. :/

[@frank8917]

Yeah but what about the progresists? Those bastards don’t understand words, god sometimes I want to kill them but I don’t want to and I can’t? Also, this is the video I’ve been looking for

[@elvenfascism6531]

@@Luzz4136 thats what the politicians want you to think. The stuff they say on TV is not real. They're only doing that to get elected. All politicians are evil. Politicians are like devils, they say something that you like, but they're laughing behind your back. They dknt care about faith, they dont care about the economy, and most importantly they don't care about the people. We may have a so- called "leader" but in reality we're on our own.

[@kerrell95]

I wish people would stop letting their emotions control their politics.

[@NosyFella]

Luke Kerrell How can you have political views without emotions?

[@65firered]

Gilfoyle Shanks Controlling emotions is not lacking emotion.

[@RaphaelSloanYusukeUrimeshi]

65firered emotional empathy allows one to create a society all can benefit from the current administration in the US is bereft of that because a pathological liar is the leader.

[@temujin1234]

Gilfoyle, the problem is that people express their emotions about other things in politics.

[@NosyFella]

65firered I don't really get that. Our emotions are fundamental to who we are, they are the foundation to all our beliefs. How can you control them?

[@ivandafoe5451]

Prof. Snyder is so good at this. I really appreciate how well he presents his research, conclusions, and ideas.

[@DDCrp]

I can't stand it when people tell me that I ought to be indignant or upset or angry like it's their business to tell me what to feel. It's just a lack of boundaries and self awareness that I think puts people at the mercy of 'historical patterns' rather than being helpful towards something better

[@1Fresh_Water]

this video went in an entirely different direction than I thought it would

[@kirawelty]

If you no longer make it part of adulthood to understand and regulate your own emotions... this is what happens. Some intellectual who thinks they know more than you will stand up and tell you something you should already know.

[@lennonneedham6532]

"Some intellectual who thinks they know more than you..." thats a pretty emotional response towards intellectuals :^)

[@lexyswope]

@@lennonneedham6532 An intellectual values all ideas and is generally inbiased.

[@lennonneedham6532]

Lexy Swope an intellectual only values worth while ideas. Would an intellectual value the idea that the earth is flat? No, maybe you should think over your position and develop something more nuanced beyond “inbiased” = good

[@lexyswope]

@@lennonneedham6532 The Earth has been proven not to be flat. You chose a wrong example for a gitcha.

[@lennonneedham6532]

Lexy Swope but it IS an idea, as per your first comment it still follows that an intellectual would consider it as you yourself said they consider ALL ideas

[@charleskesner1302]

Interesting point of view.

[@JayZondi-cd8jj]

A lot of comments here saying that they're done thinking or being involved in politics. That would be like saying they'd rather not have anything to do with how the society they live in is organized and how that affects them. Good luck with that.

[@jakomean]

Very good talk! This kind of objective, informed reflection is what the current political climate needs. It's not about what's "right" or "wrong" (although objectively provable facts should not constantly be called into question), it's about gaining perspective and looking at different angles. "This is a problem" --> "Why? Is it? If so, what can we do? If not, what is/are the problem/s?". Whenever someone confronts me with an already solidified solution to what they perceive to be a problem (Solution "Build wall" to stop Problem "illegal immegration"), I take a step back and ask "What is the problem?" and then "assuming it is a problem, how do we fix it? What are the different dimensions of the problem and can we approach one of them?"

[@angelic8632002]

Hes on the right track alright. Just add a few other science disciplines and you can really spot whats bs and whats not. Sociology/psychology, biology, geography and modern day anthropology, especially. Otherwise you might misinterpret history and draw the wrong conclusions.

[@Masterfinli]

Great video, this it's truly impressive, Mr Snyder just decomposed a very complex issue in something really easy to relate and understand, keep this kind of videos coming on Big Think :)

[@drdurgeshmodi7106]

Thanks for the insight

[@KoAkaiTengami]

This might have been one of the best of 2018. I'm surprised but happy.

[@Erdnase23]

Unfortunately it also works the other way - history shows us how fragile 'civilisation' is and how quickly things escalate. The lesson I suspect i should be taking is, at the first signs of fascism, get out. The question is, are we at that point. That is the anxiety that a historical perspective brings rather than eliminates.

[@chrystalweaver618]

Exactly what I was thinking. I am upset precisely because I see the Big Picture. We are in a dangerous situation. I always listen to others. I don't let emotions control my politics. I am struggling with people who are so radicalized by the right wing media that they have lost any sense of the truth. I was a lifelong Republican (but not a political person) until Trump came around. He was more than a bridge too far. I can't deal with people who are so entrenched in the big lie that DJT had the election stolen from him. Or that January 6th was not an Insurrection. I believe my own eyes and ears.

[@vincentkingsdale8334]

​​@@chrystalweaver618what about the left wing media? I dont want to get into an argument with you, but ALL media lies. As far as the election, i find it convenient that Covid presented itself in an election year and that voting day became voting month.....

[@thetruthsetsyoufree1492]

The illusion of fear by itself grew from spear during the prehistoric time to nuclear bomb in the WWII. This should be similar to those who irresponsibly use their emotions to control their politics.

[@ilhamonytube]

Thank you.

[@gabetower]

Well put!

[@memo9875]

I think it is important to have an opinion on politics as long as you don't let it define you, control you, and use it for evil and act in an aggressive behavior towards others. I hate politics anyway it was the least enjoyable thing I learned in high school I hated every second of it. While I may have some opinions on politics I do not let it consume me and I do not invest a lot of my time and energy into it. It destroys people which I've seen, given the fact that I am Syrian I've seen the worse of the worst lmao

[@austinroundsgallery83]

I agree. Politics were all bull in my highschool years too.

[@ellana2402]

were can i find the transcript of this video of mr. snyder? pls..

[@bennynutts16]

Stop emotions from controlling your politics , i think is what u meant to say

[@rushparul]

Thank you :)

[@davideassis87]

But without politics controlling my emotions I'll never be sure that I am the hero and the truly good person in the room while anyone else who disagrees with me is worse than Hitler. I need to be sure that I'm good and the others are evil and only my heart and my convictions are capable of make it clear. :-(

[@Mariomario-gt4oy]

Funny how you are an example of what this video is talking about

[@johnnybravo1041]

Mario mario sounds like projection my friend. Everything about this comment is a true reflection of reality

[@Mariomario-gt4oy]

Johnny Bravo nope just an emotional tantrum

[@johnnybravo1041]

Mario mario you're doing it again homie

[@Mariomario-gt4oy]

Johnny Bravo nope you are homie

[@maxw383]

7:10 for a summary of his point that he keeps repeating for 7 minutes.

[@RobertEskuri]

I think people attempt to become the opposite of a person who has hurt them in some way. Sharing an emotional experience that provides support from others is reassuring.

[@65firered]

I just came to I'm impressed that the thumbnail and title actually match this time.

[@jackwilley9847]

You are helping me!

[@ImRan_Ma1ik]

Please use twilight background color.

[@liammarcosgardiner1025]

What a great video

[@DrSanity7777777]

"Political conflict is not like an intercollegiate debate in which the opponents agree in advance on a definition of the issues. As a matter of fact, the definition of the alternatives is the supreme instrument of power; the antagonists can rarely agree on what the issues are because power is involved in the definition. He who determines what politics is about runs the country, because the definition of alternatives is the choice of conflicts, and the choice of conflicts allocates power." - E.E. Schattschnieider

[@MythicalVigilante]

But what if something actually IS entirely new? Like the internet... And I've heard it compared to when the printing press was invented, and surely that is the closest comparison we can make, but the two technologies are far more different than they are similar.

[@anthonymorandi9005]

It’s not the politics, it’s the news

[@brianwade8649]

"Older people" can be inserted for "Historian" in every instance used here. Seriously. Another point: historical perspective is only one way to analyze something. There is also scientific, religious, artistic, and I would include "youthful" (just as valid and is heavy in energy and hopefulness (hopefully)). The world benefits when all these perspectives work together.

[@-nick-421]

Yeah politics can also effect the people you love

[@MC-gj8fg]

For my part I ignore it completely and focus only on maximizing value in my interpersonal connections, my money, time, and health. Nothing else really matters, least of all some hobby where I delude myself into thinking that I and the politicians I worship in some insane secular faith fully understand the causal links that go into the correct decisions. Psst...your absolutist point of view doesn't have real good odds of being the "right one." Sorry but...Spoilers!

[@FilipeBrasAlmeida]

To say that the first globalization crashed into WWI, is to ignore an honest comparison of the scope and scale of what the so called "first globalization" actually was, in relation to what we have now.

[@Roleren]

I would add that it is much larger than people think. Like for Norwegians, more ethnic Norwegians now live in the US, than in Norway, which is quite funny.

[@VickiBee]

The only thing I've ever known about historians is that they can't agree with each other on anything, especially about things I'M interested in, which are probably more ANCIENT history than history. I have a fascination with what happened at Pompeii and in Egypt before A.D. The only historic event I like that's close to modern history is what happened on the Titanic and Lusitania. I was a paramedic/firefighter, which is why I'm interested in these tragedies.

[@awuma]

The point is that one needs more reasoning, less emotion to sort out one's position.

[@temujin1234]

I think politics are most likely to control someone's emotions if the politics are soothing some personal problem. I don't think it's been done, but this would be testable. Just survey a bunch of people about general factors for well being such as employment, debt, health, and relationship status, then ask who they voted for. See if any factors correlate to a candidate more strongly than their overall election results, and you can see whether the candidate is feeding on discontent. I can guess the results, but it would be cool to pin down. A bunch of frogs would probably be the bigliest outliers.

[@discontinuedchannel9957]

Watching South Park is more fun and a great way to make friends all around the world, or just wanting to not do anything and continuing to push carts is a way to make friends especially romantic relationships

[@jamaalrosen4068]

How do you separate your emotions from anything you feel strongly about? How do we get the American revolution, abolition, and the civil rights movement without emotion tied into politics?

[@davidross6782]

exactly

[@nathan6705]

This guy would love Asimov's Foundation series. His first point was pretty close to one of the main plot points (written over 70 years ago!).

[@patriotmom777]

Politics have been no better than a "Clique vs. Clique" war. Each clique fighting for popularity dominance (classic middle school BS) In which NO One has Ever- Does now nor Will Ever- Deserve. Its just easier to boycott the constant publicity via news, find other more constructive things to watch or listen to as well as get out and about, be physically active plus begin to develop a better frame of mind and well founded sense of Individuality. The less a person lets politics bother them, the better said person is going to feel.

[@bobbyharper8710]

Politics is like going to a pep rally and talking trash about the other team and lying about how good your team is.

[@BenNixon32]

Never let your emotions effect your decisions, period.

[@youtubechannel12371]

Emotions cannot be removed from decision; no human is immune to emotional bias. Those that think they‘ve removed emotions are in a state of emotional denial. A more useful message would be “Never let irrational emotions affect your decisions”.

[@sooneatyOrchids]

He has not said anything. Simply whipped up more amorphous fears"certain patterns" Failed Globalisation" . So whats your analysis and prediction? And what is to be done?

[@RichardRagan]

Tim, I like what you said, but you should have given an example telling us what Trump has done/said, what the common reaction was, and then how you could use history to re-understand it while controlling your emotions.

[@painexotic3757]

I used to love politics but now I hate it. I stopped watching the news because there's always some political propaganda or drama on. All I know is that I will not let anyone control my life lol. And you shouldn't either. Do what you want, but recognize that some of your actions may have consequences. Weigh 'em when doing them.

[@VickiBee]

I did it by stopping listening. Turned them off. Never want to hear them for as long as I live. My boyfriend's grandfather actually lived through WWII in Germany and they've found 12 exact matches between Trump & Hitler. His Grandfather was 13 years old when Hitler became Chancellor and 24 when Hitler killed himself to avoid taking responsibility for what he'd done.

[@Rhibb23]

The problem is the opposite of this- your emotions shouldn't control your politics.

[@jamesoncross7494]

When a country has nothing to fight against, they fight against themselves.

[@BotanicalCreature]

This would be relevant if you swapped the words "politics" and "emotions" in the title.

[@Crazyboy48263]

I'm just gonna come right out and say. Trump is basically the history of Hitler repeating itself

[@jvnells8]

So Intersectionality is not a long term problem? Damn.

[@edwardmaxwell3951]

Shock. They are numbing us.

[@captainchaos1311]

Dropped two sided ideologies and became a monarchist. Best political decision ever. Hate Biden? hate Trump? hate Sunak? hate Starmer?

[@Synthminator]

How? Taking responsibility for your own life, instead of wanting politician A or B to do it for you. There is no other way.

[@dcllaw677]

Very disappointed I expected some concrete ideas about how to stay calm. All the talk of historical perspectives helps very little when you are facing an immediate threat.

[@m.burgesszbikowski8049]

David Lucey . Is Donald Trump at your door?

[@davidross6782]

this comment means a lot more now than 4 years ago...

[@kaybecker2199]

I have a historical perspective; that is why I'm depressed. We are witnessing the end of (another) empire (the US) and like the end of all empires it is horrible for people ( and now all living things) I disagree with Tim Snyder, history is cyclic. However this time it may end in a sixth extinction.

[@nikkivieler3761]

Thanks for this, it helps with the ukraine war and the depressing story it tells... Hopefully humanity will move on from that...

[@andreac980]

Think of iraq first

[@secularraygon791]

My Grandmother needs to watch this. She wakes up to see what Trump has done and is pissed the entire day like everyone is Trump...

[@joryjones6808]

So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.

[@stevewise1656]

Sure, though the most prominent U.S. historians are freaking out and saying this could be the end of our democracy. No similarities in our history. This is analogous to Mussolini.

[@RTL2L]

"Let's be affraid of foreigners or nuclear war". Ok, why didn't he mentioned the latest trend "Let's be affraid of our own president"?

[@sophiaisajiw1076]

So, basically, critical thinking skills...

[@NelsonLovell]

I initially thought "not this guy again" after that disastrous crash course on fascist philosophy 2 months ago lol he redeemed himself here though.

[@JonEPC364]

I am so tired of this shit, why can't we just live normally, like it was before, we had different opinions but we didn't destroy our life's in name of a "cause". I am tired, I hope we can live peacefully again.

[@makizenin1840]

Same here! I've been so mentally and physically drained because of seeing all the political stuffs on online and offline. I even thought about suicide at some point due to seeing all the unfairness and cruelty. I always fear for my life and have nightmares where someone is killing me.........idk what to do My mental health is getting very bad😭😭

[@jamessutton9476]

Nihil novi sub Sole / There is nothing new under the Sun To borrow a phrase from the Romans, who were some of the most prolific chroniclers.

[@hamdoggius]

A red flag, from the Koch brothers of all people?

[@quinaIMF]

REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[@Surrealist4Hire]

What he means to say is a day is coming without Donald Trump hogging the news.

[@tznwyvuk471]

I just realised that Trump politics are like poetry. Thank you #MAGA #TRUMP2020

[@kinpatu]

I agree that Hillary’s campaign was preposterous, but not everything she said was untrue. And I agree that her campaign almost ‘worked’.

[@RickDelmonico]

kinpatu, hillary is mafia.

[@EarlyRiser71]

kinpatu strange last sentence. She was predicted to win a landslide. She lost by an electoral landslide. Not sure that was an almost win.

[@RickDelmonico]

Chuck-U Farly, her dad was mafia, her tactics are mafia, her and obama are both tied into cia, mena ak. Air amerika, barry seal, rat lines. Are you really that clueless? Bush too. I can make it real simple. Russia is run by mafia types and so is our government. It is all about money. Everything else is bull shit. Believe what you want.

[@RickDelmonico]

Are we done Chuck?

[@BugRib]

Rick D. - yer dum

[@nicfarrow]

This guy goes on like a toilet roll! Did he actually say anything by the end of it?

[@PalleRasmussen]

He said that dumb twats with the attention span of a ferret on speed is a problem for democracy, as they get played by skillful manipulators all the time. So, to spell it out, for I do not expect you to understand subtleties; you sir, is *the* problem.

[@oodlesofnoodles4660]

How to stop religion from controlling your emotions. Because politics = religion (or at least is cut from the same cloth, i.e. collectivism).

[@marlenedietrich6706]

I quit listening to politics.

[@angelic8632002]

And that's why populists win. You have given up your responsibility as a citizen in a democracy.

[@marlenedietrich6706]

Simone I sure did 😉 I'm sick & tired of being emotionally manipulated.

[@painexotic3757]

Same. I used to love politics but now I hate it. It's a waste of time. The only way a government can control you is if you let them. I don't vote because no matter who's in office, I will not let anyone stop me from doing what I want to do.

[@marlenedietrich6706]

Simone & trying to shame a random person over politics is pathetic. 😜 good luck with that 😉

[@angelic8632002]

+FromHere2Eternity Not my intention at all. Just giving it to you straight. You can see the same pattern all over the west, in Europe and the Americas.

[@dasanji90]

We Canadians, we don't know what you are talking about!

[@wesleywright13]

Long winded way of saying history repeats itself

[@moomoomoo33ass]

How about you accept your president as I did In the past 8 years before Trump and respect your president and support him nomatter what because you love your country! I didn’t like Barack Hussein Obama. But I supported MY PRESIDENT! now it’s time for liberals to support our new president Donald J Trump!!!!! If you can not then you are an enemy of the state! Support our President or be an enemy! Plead Libtards show yourself so we can crush you .commie manbun guysWITH DOUCHEBAG beards, and butch girls, who refuse to have a feminine haircut,YOU CANT WIN

[@raypeterman8778]

it's called Elliot Wave...get off your high horse it's basic human emotions

[@charlottemccaskill2024]

Sorry Mr Snyder, but do you, by any chance, happen to be Jewish?

[@tomandband]

i dont let emotions control my politics, I’m not a liberal

[@JewTube001]

you sound emotional

[@smeghead666]

So you support a president with no scientific advisor? How does that work then Mr Objective?

[@timy9197]

Quick answer: don't be a leftist.

[@Memento_Mori_Music]

Ironic how that quick answer seems fueled by some negative emotion.

[@Philitron128]

Ti My says the guy supporting a fascist

[@aaronburratwood.6957]

Ti My That means not caring.

[@aaronburratwood.6957]

Philitron128 👍🏽.

[@angelic8632002]

+killbotone Exactly. Left and right is very clearly a human bias since its pretty much always represented regardless of culture. That tells us there is something more fundamental going on behind the scenes. Probably related to brains and our fear responses if I am to make a guess.

[@JUDALATION]

Dumb talk...anything can happen....including new stuff... that could be disastrously terrible and emotional.

[@bonecanoe86]

MAGA

[@leofloppa]

Chuck-U Farly This is your brain on CNN

[@leofloppa]

Chuck-U Farly You're so naive it's laughable, you think Fox is the only one who has an agenda?

[@Philitron128]

Leonardo Ramírez the only one with an agenda to install a fascist corporate regime lol

[@bonecanoe86]

lol Fox News. Nobody under 70 cares about those dinosaurs anymore. Except TUCKA!

[@ivansnyman3832]

You're completely delusional if you think Trump will go to jail and even if he gets any charges he has the power to pardon himself. Can't stop the DON

[@chescarino]

what a curios mix of insecurity and self felatio.. almost like a rapper, talking about himself in the professional third person

[@mayormccheeze2345]

Right wing propaganda

[@65firered]

Here is a good example of the title...