The fascist philosopher behind Vladimir Putin’s information warfare | Big Think

The fascist philosopher behind Vladimir Putin’s information warfare
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Some ideas lie dormant for decades, and such is the case with Russian philosopher Ivan Ilyin, whose anti-communist stance got him-along with about 160 other intellectuals-expelled from Soviet Russia in 1922 aboard the 'philosopher's ship'. So who was Ilyin, and why has Russia's President Vladimir Putin breathed new life into his writings more than 60 years after Ilyin's death? Yale University's Professor Timothy Snyder gives a crash course in three pillars of Ilyin's philosophy of fascism and explains why this worldview is so appealing to Putin: it defines freedom as knowing your set place in society, asserts that democracy is a ritual and not a reality, and maintains that there are no facts in the world-Russian nationalism is the only truth. Perhaps the most fascinating part of this is how new technology-like Facebook-is turning old fascism into political warfare. "The fundamental way that Russia works in American politics is by transmitting the idea that’s nothing is real... What the fascist ideas do with the new technology is they drive [Americans] into a situation where we think the real stakes of politics are all emotional and all about enemies-usually enemies at home," says Snyder. Russia meddled in the 2016 U.S. election in such a way that Americans couldn't see where the trouble was coming from. "A lot of us are still having a lot of trouble seeing what was happening," he says. 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: Ivan Ilyin was a fascist philosopher of the '20s, '30s, and '40s, but he’s probably the most important example of how old ideas can be brought back in the 21st century or in a postmodern context.
Ilyin had three very important ideas. The first was that social advancement was impossible because the political system, the social system, is like a body. So you’re a cell, you’re an embryo, you’re an organ, you have a place in this larger body, and freedom means knowing your place. That’s what freedom means.
A second idea that he had is that democracy is a ritual. So we can vote, but we only vote in order to affirm our collective support for a leader. The leader is not legitimated by our votes or chosen by our votes, the voting is just a ritual by which we collectively, every couple of years, endorse a leader who has emerged from some other place, from some-in fascism, a leader is some kind of hero who emerges from fiction, who emerges from myth.
The third idea Ilyin had, which is very useful, is that the factual world doesn’t count. It’s not real. Ilyin says that God created the world, but that was a mistake. The world was a kind of aborted process. The world is a horrifying thing because it’s full of this and that and the other thing, what we call facts, and those facts can’t be unified into some kind of larger whole so the world is actually horrifying, and those facts are disgusting and of no value whatsoever.
So, if you were Vladimir Putin and you’re governing as the head of an oligarchical clan it’s very comfortable to be able to say, “Well, look, freedom consists in knowing your place in society. There’s no possibility for social advance.”
If you’re Vladimir Putin and you don’t have serious democracy or you don’t want to have it, it’s very comfortable to do, as he, in fact, has done, it’s very comfortable to transform elections into a kind of ritual.
And, likewise, if you can’t have the rule of law and if Russians are basically stuck in a certain place economically and politically, the idea that the world is not factual, that the world is just subjective, that it’s just a matter of this opinion, that opinion and the other opinion, is very comfortable.
And Ilyin adds the even more comfortable conclusion that the only true thing is Russian nationalism. The only hope to bring the whole world together is that somehow Russia-which is an innocent victim of the rest of the world-will somehow restore itself ...
For the full transcript, check out bigthink.com/videos/timothy-s...

[@XSimonEntertainmentX]

I thought he was gonna bring up Aleksandr Dugin.

[@yellowhead68]

@@IsaacIsBored is Dugin such an interesting figure for Russians ? You gotta be fucking kidding

[@maximcozirev2680]

@@yellowhead68 he is interesting. You don't think so?

[@e.p.4941]

@@maximcozirev2680 What is interesting about him?

[@ivanmassimo4769]

Is he supposed to be the fascist philosopher? When he aint fascist at all

[@XSimonEntertainmentX]

@@ivanmassimo4769 ok shill

[@bananananananaman]

It’s good to note that this video is 3 years old and during COVID Putin has spent lot of time in the archives. He might’ve got some new inspiration from there as well

[@jameslau5497]

M8, as Starlord said it: " a little pee is coming out of me right now"

[@boudewijnkerkwijk4695]

Putin is the worst historian in history!

[@Roleren]

This was too short to really understand much. Read his book, The road to Unfreedom. There he cites multiple instances, like ones when Putin asked by a Russian student which historical figure was most important to him philosophically, he answered "Ilyan". He also adds other inspirations of course.

[@baheer156]

does Eurasian Neo-fascist imperialism mold fit putins thinking

[@Roleren]

@@baheer156 Tim calls him Scizo facist, which is a better name I think. A facist that calls everyone else facist, even a Jewish president.

[@romwell]

This is 100% spot on. The key word is: "authoritarianism by spectacle". What's missing is that Putin did not invent this - the credit goes to Vladislav Surkov. Vladislav Surkov has been Russia's chief ideologist at the time the video was made. He was a theater major. Spectacle is his education and specialty. And now the whole world is his stage.

[@corvanhoute8072]

This guy is ignorant. Slava Russia.

[@raskolnikov1461]

Everything on this video is a product of Western regime.

[@chapter_black3234]

That third point made is a point of just post-modernism in general though. It isn't confined to Fascism by any means. Fact of the matter is that there is an absolute truth of the universe, but it is not something that any one population can assess, much less one person. The Real exists regardless of human perception or not. The Earth was spherical before humanity understood it as such and knowledge of this fact did not change Earth to be so. The best humanity can do is to understand the world via reason perceived through a historical lense and make the effort to consistently educate humanity of these truths, despite knowing the stories we tell will change and develop over time

[@dlo111]

Beautifully said.

[@tekkersmo3816]

Quantum Physics suggests that observation may have an outcome on reality though. Like Schrodinger's Cat, the cat could be anywhere in the box or not there at all. It's only when you look that reality solidifies for the observer. Reality may be more relative than we care to admit. Look up the observer effect, could have massive implications if weaponized.

[@petitio_principii]

It seems you speak of "post modernism" without knowing much about it. There's this new trend over the past decades of calling random things and ideas "post modernism," as a grab-bag that includes pretty much anything the person who's speaking doesn't like. The Earth is not a sphere, but a oblate spheroid, by the way.

[@williamtell5365]

that's not a proper or normative description of post-modernism, sorry. You're just thinking simply and in a sloppy way. Post modernism in its various forms has a much more subtle and nuanced distinction between subjectivism and objectivism.

[@HondoTrailside]

@@williamtell5365 Nuanced distinctions that no even you have explained to us, while seeming to imagine the original post is deficient for not doing what you could not do either.

[@PhilCallis]

BigThink's should be at least two hour lectures. This is LittleThink.

[@widget3672]

I'm not saying being a patriot is bad, by all means have pride in your country. But do NOT forget the bad things because they make you feel uncomfortable. If you have to make up history (and I'm afraid almost everyone does it) then you should be skeptical of people promising "the one solution" because it's always just "one key step" but it's never to do with more research or education...

[@luciferangelica]

i never understood, can you explain? how, exactly, did russia interfere with our elections? just the chat bots? anything else? because, considering russia is not the only interest with bots, that doesn't really seem that different than rt, and they're allowed to have that here

[@cschulzke26]

@HarambeLives23 Anything else?

[@AmadoDom]

2021, now the US election system is the most secure in history ;)

[@trackdusty]

Now let this Yale Neocon move onto discussing Oligarch enabled "Democracy" in America...lol. The Russians and all the rest of the 'fascists' just don't want the Money Power - represented by this joker - walking all over them and their cultural and material heritage. Hence Putin's main "crimes".

[@tekkersmo3816]

Would you still say Russia has the right to spread propaganda in our country after what they've done in Ukraine? Or are you going to admit you got played and fell right into Putin's hands?

[@luciferangelica]

@@tekkersmo3816 rereading what i said i didn't say putin has the right to spread disinformation. i asked to have the issue explained to me. i never fully understood if there is an aspect i'm missing. i still don't have an answer. i know there's a lot of disinformation, obviously from putin, but also from prager u, and birchers and whatnot. i don't favor censorship, but i don't love all this fake consensus building. i don't have an answer, except keep teaching science, keep teaching history. teach critical thinking so people can have tools to find the truth. question the motives of anyone who wants to deny us that information anyway

[@FadiAkil]

The man himself, Ivan Alexandrovich Ilyin, writes: "The main thing of Our Tasks: It is impossible to build the great and powerful Russia on any hatred: not on social class hatred (social-democrats, communists, anarchists), nor on racial hatred (racists, antisemites), nor on political hatred."

[@Bruh-el9js]

How did you get access to his writings? I can't find it anywhere.

[@scipioafricanus2195]

@@Bruh-el9js Amazon has his books

[@Bruh-el9js]

@@scipioafricanus2195 they're way too expensive

[@scipioafricanus2195]

@@Bruh-el9js they're rare books translated into English from russian... what u expect

[@Bruh-el9js]

@@scipioafricanus2195 I expect a link for a pdf lmao

[@saooran7364]

I failed to understand where this philosopher is behind Putin in anyway. Is there any factual context to this?

[@reubenhowden3967]

Read Snyder's book on this topic

[@theexistenshield]

@@reubenhowden3967 yeah read a lot more words from the guy that made no sense when he had the chance to reach thousands in one short video... also pay for it... sure

[@Ihchkciyiyhgifuofyr555]

Current events! In real time. Watch the news.

[@saooran7364]

@@reubenhowden3967 You read the book and couldn't spare two lines of text to answer a simple question like mine. Now I understand why this Snyder dude can't even explain what is in the damn title of his video.

[@saooran7364]

@@theexistenshield Why make sense when you can make money?

[@unnamedshadow1866]

So basically this is the way to achieve peace. Have the population not know what the truth really is and when there's conflict, have the conflict set on a place you don't really care about. But make it dramatic enough to encite emotion. Have a character that can sell you the tragedy, but still, ensure tell you that the conflict will end and that the enemy is weaker so you rest at peace. When in actually everything has already been negotiated. Its just about how much fear and how much unrest you can create before settling an agreement.

[@asd99579]

Nice. Both conclusion and reflection are completely idotic.

[@reelgangstazskip]

"Muh Russia." This Ilyin fellow sounds like an interesting guy.

[@NelsonLovell]

This guy was all over the place. Conclusion had absolutely nothing in common with the opening theme lol

[@NagoyaHouseHead]

1) Social advancement is impossible 2) Democracy is a meaningless ritual 3) The factual world is not real >>> useful for authoritarian rule >>> Russia affects US politics by promoting disinformation ( factual world is not real ) >>> reduces political engagement to preferences, biases, hatreds >>> reduces our stake in politics, so we react emotionally but dont think about policy >>> reduces our political engagement so we are more passive and easier to manipulate into fascism >>> US politics linked to Russian politics via the fact that Putin and Trump are both authoritarian leaders ( though Putin is more advanced down the fascist track, and more criminal )

[@user-xt4ju5wf5c]

Ilyin was not a fasist. He just thought that Nazi Germany can abolish Russia from the Bolshvism. In his last works he wrotes that his approval of fasism was a mistake because fasism was just a alternative versoin of anti-conservative collectivist hell. Putin really loves Dugin, not Ilyin

[@preasail]

From Wikipedia: "A number of Ilyin's works (including those written after the German defeat in 1945) advocated fascism. Ilyin initially saw Adolf Hitler as a defender of civilization from Bolshevism and approved the way Hitler had, in his view, derived his antisemitism from the ideology of the Russian Whites. In 1933, he published an article titled "National Socialism. A New Spirit" in support of the takeover of Germany by Nazis."

[@HelsinkiFINketeli_berlin_com]

@@preasail I have thought a long time, and by the evidence, the russian white emigrants had a huge effect to the german political thinking after their immigration to the post-war Germany after 1917. Interestingly I have an old russian some kind of investment voucher looking like a banknote about a great sum with a great interest rate, all printed to the voucher, from the year 1917, before the october coup. In the backside of it there's one on the top of another both the large russian two-headed eagle and the same size exactly identical swastika also standing on it's one corner too than in the nazi flag much later than anywhere in Germany that early. And I mean exactly identical nothing less. It is theorized where from Hitler or whodunnit got the idea of swastika, but from that kind of vouchers the russian whites and the royals must have had carried to Germany along with them en masse any schoolboy would have had got not only an idea of the swastika but could have plagiated it and transpose the identical version of it to the nazi flag.

[@preasail]

@@HelsinkiFINketeli_berlin_com Thank you for the interesting insight.

[@arminiuszmazowszanin2670]

Russia is a fascist country so he loves ilyin as well. Fascism as ideaology works really well on russian masses. It's like they were born to live in fascist authoritarian country. Enslavement seems to not bother russians at all. Who needs free will...? "Let Vladi decide what my beliefs are".

[@meatrealwishes]

@@preasail Monarchs and aristocrats were fascist those days though. They considered themselves the driving force behind civilization. Hitler just copied them. But yes, wherever equality went, monarchs and aristocrats lost their power and wealth. They all thought like Ivan Ilyin.

[@Mohawkmonkey360]

"No large scale wars for territory" that didn't age well

[@marlonrodney2457]

To be fair, Putin has tried very hard to insulate his population from the war effort. He wants it to essentially be an entertaining TV show for them, not something that he will have to ask people to sacrifice for. Of course, the facts on the ground have forced him to burden his population far more than he thought he would have to (mobilization).

[@thosethatcan]

"From russia with hate" youtube that

[@franciscolozada4108]

it is easy for one who has reached the top (an illusion) to come up with the notion that freedom is knowing your place"" Where did Putin "come from" what was his beginning.

[@user-of3qo5sb7w]

We must be more progressive. Doesn't matter in present, where Tsar come from. He is Tsar, it is only thing for us in Russia 😌

[@jovanjohn8294]

This was hands down the absolute worst explanation of Ivan Alexandrovich Ilyin’s philosophical work I have ever heard.

[@ivanmassimo4769]

what did you expect? i dont think he aint even aware that Fascism was born as a left wing movement..

[@CaptainAHD]

Lefty Democrat, what can you expect? Whatever they don’t like is fascism, there is absolutely no criterion for demarcation between their “democracy” versus their “fascism.” Whatever they like is democratic else fascistic. These are the same people who want to vax you and your children against your wishes.

[@mothratemporalradio517]

@@CaptainAHD oh please, antivaxxer cultist, get over yourself

[@mothratemporalradio517]

@@ivanmassimo4769 i mean, even if that was the case, does it matter if fascism was initially left wing? Unless you mean to say: he dipped his toe into the water when it could pass as ethical and withdrew it thereafter? And therefore cannot be associated with the worst vagaries of fascism, as "they" might lump him in with?

[@mothratemporalradio517]

Jovan John, could you please elaborate? Unpack.. It's plainly not substantial enough to say it's the worst without saying why.

[@trucktruckin2291]

Yale. Isn't this the place where "scull and bones" calls the shots.

[@OneAdam12Adam]

Thank you for this. We should have been listening to Professor Snyder way back when this was broadcast.

[@pbmaic3291]

Ivan Ilyin literally despised Fascism... he has an entire article criticizing it.

[@MrMuel1205]

His 1933 pro-Nazi article "National Socialism: A New Spirit" makes that a tad suspect.

[@ramonserna8089]

Wich article?

[@user-xd4rs6vr4n]

​@@MrMuel1205 National socialism & fascism aren't exactly the same thing. Fascism is basically an authoritarian economic system, while national-socialism is similar to Marxism but with racial enemies as the alleged villains instead of class enemies as the villains

[@Retard634]

@@MrMuel1205 yet he was sacked by the national socialist government in 1934 one can respect natsocs without being one themselves I know liberals got this mental block about this whole idea but its true you can like things about us without being a nazi

[@TruthDissident]

@@user-xd4rs6vr4n National Socialism is far superior to Liberalism.

[@maciejbrodecki9667]

First of all can we stop overusing term fascism? Fascism was in Italy and only in Italy. The only reason people called III Reich fascists is because national soscialism known as nazism sounded familiar to USSR so socjalists stopped using that term. Also calling Putin - raised and thought in extremely leftist USSR ex-KGB agent a fascist is a mental gymnastic.

[@billykobilca6321]

True of one thing, everyone is continually updating the biases, beliefs and hates... it's a Species defect.

[@EmperorTinfoil]

"Fascist Philosopher" Lol Ivan Ilyin was a devout Monarchist who critiqued Fascism, cmon guys this is embarrassing.

[@thechadeuropeanfederalist893]

Really? What did he critique about fascism?

[@Calebibn]

He critiqued Nazism, not Fascism. That are two different things.

[@RogueRotting360]

"It is impossible to build the great and powerful Russia on any hatred: not on social class hatred (social-democrats, communists, anarchists), nor on racial hatred (racists, antisemites), nor on political hatred." - Ivan Ilyin

[@ltlarrow1]

"Standing against leftist totalitarianism, fascism was correct, as it sought just socio-political reform." "Fascism could have not created a totalitarian system: it could have satisfied itself with an authoritarian dictatorship sufficiently strong to a) uproot Bolshevism and Communism" "Finally, fascism was right since it derived from a healthy national-patriotic sensibility, without which a people can neither lay claim to its existence nor create a unique culture." If you read more of the article cited below, it appears that Ilyin thought that the Nazis just took facism too far.

[@wazzap500]

How do you know Fascism doesnt end up "too far" by itself?

[@nokoolaid]

Really informative. Thank you.

[@colonelcracken3805]

Yes a good video

[@ieronim272]

I hope that was a joke

[@MinimaAmoralia]

@@ieronim272 why?

[@ieronim272]

@@MinimaAmoralia This video's not informative it's a joke. Dugin ain't fascist

[@MinimaAmoralia]

@@ieronim272 really depends on your definition of fascism. In reality, Dugin is just incoherent. You still could call him a neo-facist of sorts.

[@user-hv8lw2il7g]

и где связь?

[@sergiibulgakov7382]

Теперь увидел связь?😊

[@BarryBranton]

His name was Ivan Alexandrovich Ilyin.

[@hecklerkoch8236]

“For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.”

[@basecamp5319]

This is pretty much BS

[@jordysco8724]

I hear this fella speak a lot about facts... ask him one simple question “is Bruce Jenner a woman?”

[@1midnightfish]

Why would he care

[@JacquesLapeyre]

And the Dragon (The State) gave the Beast (Human Animal Evolutionary-Baggage) his Power and Great Authority. And the whole world was astonished and worshiped the Beast, and the Dragon, saying "Who is like The Beast?" And "Who can make war upon him?"

[@JacquesLapeyre]

#DispensationalMarxism

[@Daniel-px8xg]

Not once do they write his name so I can Google him

[@miltiadiskoutsokeras9189]

Very important comment at the end: we are derailed away from creative new methods for policies. It's all about sociopathic barriers instead of working out solutions. State based fascism is what applies universally right now , from Venezuela up to the US. Now go buy something to forget about the obvious.

[@kaisertreu6276]

In which way are Venezuela or the US fascist? That's just idiotic. You can't just go around and call any authoritarian regime or populist president a fascist.

[@miltiadiskoutsokeras9189]

@@kaisertreu6276 Authoritarian regime is an alias for fascism. Ask any pro-freedom person or movement in the world. Authority and power applied by force is something that a civilized society cannot accept. I totally understand though, the people defending these regimes. They will lose access to resources and human exploitation in a free society.

[@kaisertreu6276]

@@miltiadiskoutsokeras9189 Sure fascism is authoritarian, but authoritarianism isn't always fascism. The Soviet Union was an authoritarian state, but it was a Marxist-Leninist dictatorship. It was not fascist. Communist China is an authoritarian state, but it isn't fascist. Venezuela was under Chavez democratic-socialist, and now under Maduro it's leftist-nationalist, that's how I would classify it. And America is still a democratic Republic, even though Trump as a right wing populist is in office. He cannot simply change the constitution and overthrow the government to establish a dictatorship.

[@kaisertreu6276]

@@miltiadiskoutsokeras9189 Also I would add that authority and force are things that you will (of course to varying degrees) find in every society. When people live in a community, they need rules in order for the community to work. And when somebody breaks these rules, you need people to enforce them, people who have the authority to do so. Simple as that. This is something that also exists in a democracy/free society (of course to a lesser extent than in an authoritarian state).

[@spirochristlovers]

A perfect description of postmodern corporate America. Yes, some aspects also apply to Russia, even during the Soviet times. But he didn't mention that as the West gets more secular and uprooted from its cultural anchor, Russia is affirming its millennia of Orthodox Christian social and cultural experience. This may be what mostly unnerves the unrestrained profit seeking materialists of the West. Tom S.

[@andreylubarsky6339]

Russia is way more secular than the United States. Perceiving Russia as a "stronghold of Christianity" is totally erroneous.

[@OneAdam12Adam]

spirochristlovers Yeah, you're a Christofascist, Russian Disinformation Troll Farm. You're upset because you know that the Trump Insurgency will go to prison for life if not face the death penalty.

[@jarischol331]

Lol. I tought it was Putin about to talk in BigThink. Haha

[@jimjam5239]

People have been saying stuff like this for almost a decade. Our politicians and leaders watched on and did very little. We didn't heed their warnings and now Ukraine is paying the price for it.

[@Shadowriffles]

This professor has diverged a bit too far from the path of reality himself. The things he explains could apply to all governments in the world.

[@SemenSonyah]

Apply to french government

[@sanyopoweraid1]

Yes, he speaks as if there is any real chance of "social advance" under capitalism. It's a statistical fact that if you're born into a poor family in an economically depressed region, you'll end up struggling for the rest of your life. These people are delusional and far removed from the reality of life for the vast majority under capitalism. In the West we believe in social advance because such a belief is needed to keep things functioning, to keep you struggling to "get ahead," as we say. Not to say we need to heed Ilych's words, either. I haven't read him. In any case, fascism is not the answer to capitalism, though capitalism does tend to produce fascism.

[@perkomatovic8985]

Ivan Illyin has nothing to do with fascism, as soon as Hitler came to power he was put under police surveillance, and forced to leave Germany, so he fled to Switzerland. In his works on ideologies he critiques fascism. He had nationalistic views but far from fascism. Russophobia, putinophobia and the red scare you Americans were brought up on are making you not objective.

[@buddyduddyful]

Please don't blame Americans, blame the antiwhite Regime, and its media acolytes, they are responsible for all of the anti-Russian and anti-Putin disinformation. The antiwhite Regime's media is guilty of psychological warfare via their antiwhite narratives.

[@JamesDecker7]

This comment aged poorly. Good bless the sovereign state of Ukraine 🇺🇦

[@Catlily5]

Guess Putin proved you wrong...

[@perkomatovic8985]

@@Catlily5 how? What did Illyin do?

[@perkomatovic8985]

@@JamesDecker7 How? What did Illyin do?

[@john-ic5pz]

"Phenomena" is a better word for what he referred to than the more loaded word, "facts".

[@schutsheer_des_vaderlands]

Ivan Ilyin was by no means a fascist. On the contrary, he spoke out against fascism. This title shows to be nothing more than propaganda and the sign of lack of knowledge of both fascism and Ilyin.

[@INeedJesus4sure]

"Facts are stubborn things" John Adams Putin is learning this now about Ukraine

[@better_dead_than_red]

It's so pleasant when everybody is talking about your country in a good key

[@michaelmappin1830]

Yeah, facts are stubborn things. As it turns out, Putin was correct.

[@paineite]

Dr. Levin, what evidence do you have that Ilyan is admired by or influential on Pres. Putin ? Thank you.

[@trojanhorse860]

Alexander Dugin is the man....whose philosophy & ideas have been influencing Putin & calling for a war on Ukraine... This Dr. Levin has no clue... Dugin has been developing what he calls the fourth political theory beyond liberalism, communism & fascism. His rejection of liberalism is a sound one....Look'm up. He's called *the brain* *of Putin...*

[@Roleren]

Read his book, The road to Unfreedom. There he cites multiple instances, like ones when Putin asked by a student which historical figure was most important to him philosophically, he answered "Ilyan". He also adds other inspirations of course.

[@trojanhorse860]

@@Roleren Propaganda book. I listened to this propagandist on big think, & the following sentences from the description of his above mentioned book go as follows: *.....The rise of populism, the British* *vote against the EU, and the election* *of Donald Trump were all Russian* *goals, but their achievement reveals* *the vulnerability of Western societies..* Those sentences alone discredit this book, not to mention the fact that Russia just rejects liberalism, the liberal global order, liberal cultural political ideological & economic imperialism, US hegemony & NATO's expansion. Its mainly an ideological struggle. Russia wants to preserve its own traditional conservative values & identity. They just wanna be free & independent from western cultural ideological & other imperialism (its their birth right to do so) , no wonder that all that resonates with the conservative populist western movements & political parties, ' cause they want also the same in the west, i mean to preserve & defend their own (perceived) identities & traditional values, while rejecting liberalism. There is no conspiracy theory there. Russia is not seeking to destroy western liberal democracies or their liberal values, of course not. Russia just does not accept those values & form of government..... *at home.* Check out "the brain of Putin", Alexander Dugin. He has been calling for a 4th political theory beyond fascism communism & liberalism that are all rejected by today's Russia, so thats a fact that this author of the road to unfreedom is a propagandist when he calls that kind of thought fascist. No wonder, since the liberal global order will not accept any exception to its global hegemony, but Russia is determined to fight for its independence identity values interests.... The alternative is...nuclear war, so the west will have to make such deals with Russia that will have to guarantee its independence, security, liberty ( freedom from western cultural political economic ...imperialism) ... especially after china & Russia signed an agreement begin last month to form a united front at all levels & without limits to challenge US hegemony, NATO's imperialist expansion while rejecting liberal democracy & its values as a "model for the world". Can you blame them? Liberal democracy is an Eurocentric invention= *not* universal (the west can keep it, but the west must stop to impose it to the rest of the world, unless some nations want to embrace liberal democracy & its values, voluntarily & without coercion...) , its version of human rights included, so no liberal degeneration is accepted by china or Russia....such as gay rights, gay parades, gay marriage, transgender bullshit & the rest of those values or *liberal* defintions of indidividual freedom,.... Keep your filth to yourselves, thank you....

[@Ihchkciyiyhgifuofyr555]

I would research Alexander Dugin. There's more proof out there of his and putins connection since he's a russian elite high official and putins current advisor. He has a bunch of books detailing exactly what's happening in the world today and what russians ultimate plans are etc. There are plenty of unbiased channels that cover him. I know ppl are particular about the media they consume these days.

[@paineite]

@@Ihchkciyiyhgifuofyr555 Thanks very much for your response. I have looked into it a bit and yes, there does indeed appear to be a connection. He's an influential guy in Russian thought. Thanks for the considerate reply. Appreciated

[@Reinindiereuse]

is there any place on the internet where i can find translations of iljins works? I would like to understand the thinking of this maniac.

[@fascistmonke]

You mean genius

[@kennethmorrison7689]

Somehow Snyder is supposed to be free of bias.

[@Kova-ow2en]

Hes just a propagandist

[@OneAdam12Adam]

Spoken like a true Russian Disinformation Troll.

[@OneAdam12Adam]

@@Kova-ow2en Spoken like a true Russian Disinformation Troll Farm. Putin is a putz. The Trump Insurgency needs to be imprisoned for life.

[@Kova-ow2en]

@@OneAdam12Adam okay, mate, It’s not disinformation about the sick shit that happens because of the Ukrainian government tyranny which has been happening for way before the war ever happened. They murdered russian ethnics in the far east of Ukraine and oppressed orthodox Christians (even have done it to their own monks in Lavra Caves because they’re magically have connections to the Kremlin). But yeah, muh “russian disinformation). GO FUCK YOURSELF. You sick bastard

[@evangelosgeronicolas2385]

The Ultimate choice, Ilyin says, is between a shameful life and an honorable death. The first is weakness and the second is strentgh. The choice was forced upon people in the SSSR. The choice is coming rapidly to force for all in the West now.

[@openyoureyes3308]

It's funny that Princeton study on American democracy points out, this is America in a nutshell

[@Butterkin]

I think the truth is that a lot of facts simply do not matter. I would generally agree, as long as the system consistently keeps it's subjects well fed and relatively healthy, that it's subjects have shelter and is free from violent conflict with each other and the state, that there are some kind of economic opportunities. That there is freedom of movement, to choose what job you want to pursue, where in the state you want to live and if consensual- whom to live with. That basic needs are filled and you have your own privacy and right to your property, generally- nothing else really matters. As long as the system creates an environment conducive to prosperity and the proper rights and freedoms are granted and unviolated, nothing else matters. What matters is that those basic principles are respected. That your system is not unlivable, that you can acquire shelter and fulfill basic needs like food, water, and basic civil liberties.

[@Butterkin]

I would also add that reproduction is both possible and desirable, that is what is necessary.

[@marlonrodney2457]

Understanding facts is what makes those desirable things possible though.

[@Erica-bh6ss]

"which is actualy what america and russia have in common" Yup.

[@michaelmalia8636]

GOD does not make mistakes. ..."hallowed be his name"

[@joeblowe7545]

Amen brother. It makes me sick to read and hear these arrogant little minds who think they are wise and learned.

[@adamstevens5518]

The world is subjective. The subjectivity is (in the highest aspiration) based on facts, but depending on which facts you focus on determines your subjectivity. People recently have been using the word "fact" as if it has some kind of higher meaning, or as a buzzword meant to imply that "their" opinion is valid while others are "subjective". This is wrong. Most people most of the time cherry pick facts that validate their subjective opinions. Which facts you choose to express or choose to focus on is at the base of what divides people.

[@dieterheinrich8377]

The world is not subjective, we are subjective. Living consists of apprehending and coming to terms with that which is beyond our subjectivity, which is the factual substrate of existence. We do this by seeking objectivity through applied rationality. The fact that we struggle to do so, and lapse into cherry picking and choosing our facts and distorting the world, does not change the game. We often can be great at it, and maybe over time we are getting better. There are encyclopedias of facts the whole world agrees on, and that is glorious. Consider the fact of the existence of the United Nations, the fact of tables and chairs, of dates, of speaking in order, of signing papers. These may be mundanities, but they put the lie to any suggestion that we cannot in principal hope to find universalities. We should not let our continued differences obscure the incredible ways in which we already get along quite well as an integrated world of 8 billion people.

[@Hapotecario]

@@dieterheinrich8377 No.

[@peetyboy3936]

I'm. Marta. You qte Amazing qnd thank you for this Excellent interpretation. ❤️

[@georgejamesducas9602]

In 60 AD Apostle Saint Andrew traveled to the area of Kiev, preached, and said, one day a great city would be built here with many churches to the glory of God. Today there is a church to Saint Andrew in Kiev. The peoples in the area were Slavic. Kyi, Shchek and Khoryv, three brothers and the sister Lybid founded Kiev in 482 AD, Kiev was named after the older brother Kyi. Kiev the older brother was King. Herodotus wrote that Hercules had founded this land. The Rus were Viking tribes that settled peacefully in Kiev as far back as 750 AD with the Slavs there, 400 years before Moskva existed. The name Russia, coming from the city Moskva, has no connection to the RUS. Russia coming from Moskva started with Batu Kahn much later as a vasal under Mongolian rule. All the early Czars were Mongolian and of no connection to the RUS. The Rus were with the Slavs to the south in Kiev. Moskva were Finnish Urgic Tribes; Mosk means cow and Va water, which are Finnish names. There was no RUS there. The ethnic background of Moskva is Finnish-Urgic and Mongolian. The Rus developed the religion, city Kiev, alphabet, churches, and had its saints. The founder of Kievian Rus (800) or the Rus was a Viking named Askold or Oskold (Norse) from Sweden; not Oleg as in the Russian story. Kievian Rus exists long Before Novgorod and Oleg’s arrival there. Askold is the Slavic name. Oskold, the first King of Kievian Rus was in Kiev before Oleg in Novgorod. Oskold had 200 ships and 20,000 warriors. Oskold was baptized in Constantinople (128 years before Volodymyr) and sent the first bishop back to Kiev. Oskold and Dir were the first Dynasty of Kievian Rus. Askold rules from the 40-60s and Dir to the 80s. Askold is buried in Kiev and the first Kievian Christian King & Dynasty. Oleg followed coming from Sweden through Novgorod and was a pagan. Russia as named today started in the city of Moskva over 400 years later after Kievian Rus or Rus. From Kiev, the capitol of Rus, Kievian culture was spread, much like the Greeks Hellenized the known world, or like the British anglicized the world by the English language. This process does not make Moskva to become RUS in as much as Persian are not Greek. How we are misled by a name; Russia. The capitol of the RUS has always been Kiev. There is no other RUS and no RUS in Moskva. Many say Ukraine began recently; but the culture of the RUS is Kievian RUS, both culture and ethnic background. Ukraine is a name given by Poland meaning outer lands. The land of the RUS before the Mongolian invasion was very large. The name RUS is a Norse name which means men that row; there are no men that row in Moskva. So Moskva adopted the name Russia while being a Mongolian vassal, essentially traitor to the RUS; and all the Czars were Mongolian-Finnish. The Culture of the Mongolian was centralized power, and that cultural imprint was passed on to present day Russia. Ukraine’s real name should be Kievian RUS, or Kievskarus! Russia began in Moskva by Batu Kahn and Novgorod conquered much later, still no connection to the Rus. Putin & Lavrov should be ashamed of themselves, the USSR was an occupation; it never had the status of a sovereign state and due process of law that would be associated with a free society. Even today the mentality of the gulag exists. There is no freedom of press and speech, people are arrested for speech, there is no due process of law, and the religion is state run making it totalitarian theocracy. As such, it did not deserve to exist in a free world; and history has shown such totalitarian organizations fail over time and author in many gulags. The true culture of Russia is Finno-Ugric and Mongolian, having nothing to do with the RUS (Kievian), expect borrowed as in the sense of Hellenized or Anglicized "forms" as a comparative reference. The centralized form of Russian politics is a very Mongolian imprint on culture. The actions of Putin seem to be another Mongolian invasion of Kiev; here I suggest as to the correct metaphor. I believe so. Putin & Lavrov insistence to have purview over eastern Europe also seems like paying tribute to the Mongolian Horde. Moskva started as an agglomeration of Finnish tribes, combining a Finnish name meaning cows water and developed by Mongolian culture. Mosk means cow and Va means water. The RUS are men that row, Vikings, Norse, established Kiev 400 years before (750 AD) Moskva even thought to exist. The name Russia for current nation is totally inappropriate. The current Russia started in Moskva; how misleading is the name Russia coming from Moskva that has no connection to the RUS. All the lands should be returned to Kiev; the West of Russia to Finland, and the East to Mongolia. Russia’s place on the globe appears as a temporary aberration in my view. To use threats of Nukes publicly strikes at the heart as adolescent behaviour; surely any nation or person that issues such threats and being an ally to such while not even having war imposed on them is not fit to rule. This would include allies of Russia. Oh yes, I remember, Russia didn't invent the bomb, they stole it in the 1940's and gave it to Kurchatov. Russia struggles with an identity crisis since its beginnings unoriginal to the ethnic groups. Its errors are numerous, 50 million killed by Stalin in WW2, allied to the Nazis to kill the Poles for their defeat in WW2, Holodomor where millions of Ukrainians were killed and grain stolen, and constant antagonist with Europe. We even have the Holy Mother announcing Russia’s errors at Fatima. Russia is a Mongolian culture and all the first Czars were Mongolian and Batu Kahn is the author.

[@darby8ddz]

So much hatred,man, calm down and accept that you're very close. It's like Croats vs Serbs, hatred of small differences, moreover you share the same religion. You cannot cancel Russia and its great culture, perhaps the best literature in the world. It's ridiculous. Your need to rewrite history sounds racist to me, why do you hate Asia in the first place? So many Russians were Stalin's victims, he had no special pick on Ukraine. Forget to mention that your Banderistas killed Poles and Jews with the same zest or you turned a blind eye to these atrocities?

[@kaisertreu6276]

Ilyin was a critic of fascism, after he was deported to Germany by the Bolshevist government he had to flee to Switzerland in 1934 from the Nazis. Calling him a fascist is ridiculous. Sure he was a right wing philosopher, but certainly not a fascist.

[@Daniling]

agree

[@Nirr0]

To the liberal think tank anything right of Stalin is a fascist Nazi. He even failed to realize Putin is somewhat influenced by Aleksandr Dugin and the fourth political theory opposing this contorted form of post liberalism. For a channel claiming to be "big think" they certainly do nothing of the sort.

[@kaisertreu6276]

@@Nirr0 True. These people aren't liberal (in the classic sense) at all. They don't defend free speech, they don't support constitutionalism, and they certainly don't have an open mind.

[@Mussi93]

@@kaisertreu6276 Nazis and Putin don't support free speech, that's for sure. Neither does the AfD, the Rassemblé Nationale, the Lega Nord, Vox and all other far-right parties. Don't try to make it seems as if fascists are for free speech and "liberals" ("clAsSiCaL" or not) aren't. Just because there are some vocal SJWs that are too sensitive. Fascist ideology on the other hand is built upon total REPRESSION of free speech. PS: Ilyin supported Hitler and his fascist regime and ideology. So he was a fascist. You can try to twist reality to your liking, but it doesn't change the objective facts.

[@lwhite108]

There are 3 or more forms of fascism - A classical fascist, a brutal and dominating figure, is autodidactic, having impressive and engaging oratory skills that effectively put forth their ideals to the working-class majority. Neo-fascists, or neo-Nazis, idolize Hitler and the society of Nazi Germany, being extremely radical and militant, they exist in small groups dispersed around the world. A post- modern fascist uses money and various forms of media to spread their ideologies to vulnerable members of society. Post-modern fascists project themselves as hard-working and tough, but they buy loyalty and pay others to do their bidding. Each form of fascism strives to regain a lost past, attempting to build new empires based upon fear, nationalism, racism, and false information.

[@joeg7849]

That was a reach.

[@Listenerandlearner870]

Illyin wrote On Fascism which fundamently critiques Nazism and some aspects of fascism. He was anti Soviet and anti Nazi.

[@raulheimann3808]

"It's not that Mr. Putin... wants us all to wear uniforms...to have large scale wars for territory." Well, Mr. Snyder got that one wrong.

[@sonickage]

Ivan Ilyin wasn't an authoritarian, he was similar to a constitutional monarchist in that he wanted to limit the despotism of monarchy, but retain the unity in culture and ideals that it sometimes does well. And also to limit the chaotic factors of liberalism where people don't view each other as a national "family." His views are similar to many Western philosophers of conservatism.

[@sonickage]

NOT American Conservatism that is simply classical liberalism something Ilyn would oppose. People often forget this and claim that Americans are right wing...The U.S. doesn't have a right wing bone its body lol

[@marinielgalvao5259]

Is the financial sector a fascist oligarchy?

[@davidlewisjohnson4235]

It is a tool thereof.

[@TruthDissident]

Yes

[@malikfaisal7679]

so i searched for "philosphy of putin".

[@gauravchauhan8466]

Exactly

[@eskelCz]

No large scale wars for territory, huh? This didn't age too well unfortunately.

[@lashlarue7924]

4:04 - "It's not that Mr. Putin ... wishes ... to have large-scale wars for territory..." - This didn't age well, unfortunately. 😒

[@grahamrandazzo7696]

This guy Illyin was a Hegelian philosopher. Hegel was always one of the more genius.

[@asoulist4829]

Thanks, I've been wanting to learn more about Ivan Ilyin

[@thebrizzy]

Elections are just ceremonial just like here in the US.

[@digenesakritas8234]

Ilyin was not a fascist. He was a monarchist. If you want to understand Putins ideology you have to look at his upbringing as a KGB agent and Putins ideological secretary Alexander Dugin who combines elements of Bolshevism and Fascism and who has written the textbook on Russias plan for the 21st century which is being used by the Russian Military as a teaching tool for its cadets. Ilyin was an Orthodox Christian Monarchist, the antithesis of an atheist anti-monarchist like Putin.

[@lwhite108]

There are 3 or more types of fascism - and in Ilyin's case, he was against Nazism and Hitler style. His philosophy still very much resembles fascism, just not Hitler's.

[@digenesakritas8234]

@@lwhite108 please explain which part of Ilyins philosophy is Fascist? Ilyin wrote a very interesting book on "Resisting evil by force" which laid the ideological framework for Anti-Communism in Russia. Ilyin understood the soul-destroying, god-fighting theomachic nature of Communism and his writings reflect that. I dont understand how this can be considered fascist. Are all opponents of communism fascists?

[@Kova-ow2en]

@@lwhite108 so christianity is “fascism”?

[@dankdark974]

Said a lot of words without saying a damn thing.

[@ea2631]

At what point did you establish this philosophers connection with putin

[@Conn30Mtenor]

Ilyin also postulated that Russians are superior beings. Cosmic rays.

[@martinzamjatin6931]

You don't read books and you don't know what you're talking about!

[@jesusislordsavior6343]

Let's assume that this guy is summarizing Ilyin's thoughts accurately. Doesn't the notion that facts don't matter, that everything boils down to personal preference, sound remarkably post-modern? Our generation didn't need Ilyin or Putin to tell us to think and behave this way. It springs from natural, sinful impulses, from the satanic principle, 'I WILL'. By contrast Jesus prayed to His Heavenly Father, 'Thy will be done.' And 'I WILL' is the principle which inspires and sustains tyrannical dictators. It tears society apart.

[@Rayndrops]

He's totally strawmanning Ilyin

[@jesusislordsavior6343]

@@Rayndrops A new verb, eh? But well put.

[@elliottmanley5182]

Extraordinary double-think here. Instead of choosing your own will over facts, you close your eyes and listen to the voice of an imaginary friend to tell you what the facts are and that is somehow preferable? I'd rather deal with someone who is out for themselves than someone who believes they are serving some imaginary higher purpose. The former can be reasoned with.

[@jesusislordsavior6343]

@@elliottmanley5182 Extraordinary manifestation of groupthink here. You trot out the same stupid stock stereotypes as the rest of your ideological tribe. Ultimately atheism is nothing more than wishful thinking, permitting you the luxurious illusion of being little 'gods' in your own right, free to reject moral constraints upon yourselves and impose them upon others. You would be arbiters of 'fact' and arbiters of 'justice'. Not so fast. You are the ones concocting a gigantic 'fairy tale' founded upon unshakable confidence in the providential power of pure accident. Your universe simply 'occurred' as if by magic, did it? And a great variety of thinking beings evolved from a prior state of universal Thoughtlessness. Sure, man, that's the apex of philosophical wisdom. From the lesser proceeds the greater; and you must be the greatest. He could be your Friend as well, if only you were willing to acknowledge your vulnerability, your fallibility, to repent of your pride and arrogance. But you seem content to have Him as your Enemy. Let it be to you as you desire. But He is remarkably patient and forbearing, for He 'desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth' (1st Timothy 2:4). You certainly overestimate your own dedication to Reason. The only arguments which you and your tribe typically set forth are of the 'ad hominem' and 'ad novitatem' types. All the rest is rubbish, a pose of adolescent peevishness frozen in time. 'The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." '

[@dontbothertoreply9755]

So Alexander Dugin does not exist then?

[@AndyMMM676]

100% agree

[@danieljryba]

"Trump doesn't want people wearing uniforms and marching in the street." Is an opinion that aged very poorly 🤣

[@216trixie]

"Facts are disgusting and have no value whatever". Sounds like modern Progressive thought.

[@commissarmethyst7564]

You're projecting. Russia is far-right.

[@genedickersheid362]

Brilliant

[@jovanjohn8294]

Only if you aren’t familiar with Ivan Alexandrovich Ilyin’s work. I would be surprised if this man ever read his work or had any familiarity with the Russian Orthodox tradition Ivan came from. He attributed things to Ivan Alexandrovich Ilyin that he explicitly worked against.

[@TERRANOVAofficial]

im not sure why the term fascist applies?

[@alfarare]

I'm quite surprised by the fact that you just guessed about this. My applause.

[@jafi4491]

Lol are they not at all correct?

[@jovanjohn8294]

My thoughts exactly

[@marvelhasiholan5495]

Who's the philospoher?

[@vitiachao9765]

Ivan Ilyin. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Ilyin

[@whocares_today]

Well, now wars are going on...

[@MrMikkyn]

Ivan Ilyin sounds so fascinating. I want to read his books now

[@babelbuilder9912]

this channel should be called 'small think'

[@colonelcracken3805]

Really what's to disagree with?

[@colonelcracken3805]

I agree with your point about an unsustainable, decaying empire. But "Our lack of common identity or common values is the problem"?? Smacks of socialism both Marxist socialism and national socialism, @Ursus Americanus

[@Linda-zb6zq]

Mr. Snyder. I have watched many of your video's and interviews. They r very insightful but often the interviews when replayed does not have sufficient sound value to actually hear all the details. For example, in the beginning u reference a facist philosophy, but his name is not clear. To do my own research after hearing one of your talks, the sound and/or articulation must be clearer. Despite this problem, I am trying to get our local library to host playing your video's along with facilitated discussions. Turn Up the Sound....I have mine as high as it can go.

[@cheetor1987]

So, elections only serve as a way for us to reaffirm our own ideology? I don't think that is true at all because, your elected representative's function is to represent thier people, it's in the name, and not one ideology. We are way to partisan these day's, mainly due to political purity tests, but that doesn't make us likely to be fascist, unlike Putin's Russia. This kind of false equivalence is common place in american political discourse of late although, it has merit if we continue to empower the president, but that hasn't happened yet. If we continue to look at politics in black and white terms we will alienate whoever our opposite is reafirming the beliefs we seek to change. Putin may well be turning Russia fascist, minus the ethno crap, but America isn't Russia and we aren't being productive when we compare the two. Regardless of political interferences the Pres isnt the emperor of America if any thing it's a reminder we should reduce the powers of our president.

[@rocketrasta5058]

That's exactly what the USA does, "Big Think" my ass.

[@c.t.7386]

This is very interesting. Putin is also influenced by Eurasionism and specifically the philosophy of Alexandr Dugin. This illiberal philosophy explains nearly everything Putin is saying and doing and explains why both the far left and populist right in the West seem so susceptible to Kremlin's propaganda- the left likes the cultural relativist and collectivist aspect of the ideology while the right likes the religious conservatism and anti-globalism. So it isn't just fascism or nationalism, it is Eurasian Neo-fascist imperialism.

[@jimzorn3853]

Globalism is fascism, it's the descendant of the British empire, a corporate empire based out of the City of London and Wall Street, which is headed by the Queen of England, who is much more powerful in her role as corporate chief than in her role as Queen of England. Why do you think the primary economist of globalism is considered to be Adam Smith? Nationalists, such as the American right and Russia are the natural enemies of globalist fascism, just as the original American patriots were the enemies of the British empire.

[@SkullOfTheAbyss]

Pathetic misrepresentation of literally everything Iliyin wrote.

[@Ebergerud]

Good God what rubbish. Ilyin, a hard core anti-communist, got run out of Russia. He had some sympathy with early Hitler, not uncommon in the early 30s, but became a serious critic soon. Denied employment he was allowed to emigrate to Switzerland - thanks to financial help from composer Sergi Rachmoninoff. Putin is a very level headed person. He's very much a technocrat. He's a social conservative and a Russian patriot. But to try to link him in with Russia as the Third Rome doesn't fit his career at all. Until 2008 Putin was very much pro Western and tried to work out a place for Russia in the European world - but that place had to be one of mutual respect which wasn't possible under the hegemony of the US. Why not bring in Dugin? Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn? Putin knows them both and probably sympathizes - but to paint Putin as a kind of neo fascist philosopher king misses completely the type of man Putin's career reveals him to be. Of course he's smart and that would set him aside in the US.

[@thunorwodenson]

That philosopher sounds awesome. I hope I can find him in english.

[@andrejlanzlake9892]

Ilyin has three books available in English currently. The Singing Heart, which is more a poetic selection o thoughts on life. On the Essence of Legal Consciousness, which is in some ways his magnum opus on how citizens can be taught to understand and recognize law. And then his two part thesis on Hegel. The latter two are pretty expensive unfortunately as they are high academic texts.

[@thunorwodenson]

Andrej Länz von Sennoy Thanks!

[@seventeenseventysix5589]

Alexandrovich Ilyin has another book called On resistance to evil by force. Fantastic read and it really helps you to bring out the monk and the warrior inside you and to help promote God through love and not evil.

[@ReubenRosczyk]

Did I just watch an instructional video on how to do “jazz hands”?

[@Kuudere-Kun]

The Theological part of what this taught sounds very Gnostic.

[@Kova-ow2en]

It’s orthodox Christianity

[@Kuudere-Kun]

@@Kova-ow2en Which often embraces Platonism and thus Gnosticism.

[@Kova-ow2en]

@@Kuudere-Kun wdym?

[@Kuudere-Kun]

@@Kova-ow2en I haven't seen a single modern Greek Orthodox Theologian who isn't wearing their Platonism on their sleeve.

[@Kova-ow2en]

@@Kuudere-Kun there’s no platonism

[@augustuseuropa410]

Lame. Fascism is necessary to restore order. This guy needs to wake up and start teaching the truth to his Yale students.

[@Unnamed7964]

Im so proud that my constitution makes it impossible for fascists to ever have power. Thank you costituzione della Repubblica italiana ❤️🇮🇹

[@nathanjo1376]

little think... nah... what's the word for the opposite of thinking... ok... let's criticize Putin... but blaming him for Trump, authoriatarianism in the US... wow... oh my "holy" Newton's apple... oh my "holy" Einstein's elevator... Mercers, Cambridge Analitica: yes... corporate democrats: absolutely... the lunatic republicans (it's a big movement within the Republican Party)... yes, no shit... mainstream media: right on the money... if we talk about every single one of those issues for a year... then we can mention Russian meddling with a ridiculing little smile in a passing sentence...

[@paulrimmer2853]

Belonging,submitting,overcoming. Man's journey to Glory in God.

[@Salongsberusad]

3:55 "the interesting marriage for me is, old ideas, fascist ideas in fact in a new world.. in a new world where it´s not that mr Putin or for that matter mr Trump wants us all to wear uniforms and marsch in the streets or even to have large scale wars for territory. That´s not what´s going on, but what the fascist ideas do with the new technology is they drive us into a situation where we think the real stakes of politics are all emotional and all about enemies, usually enemies at home where we get ourselves all worked up about things. Wether we like the government or not, but somehow we never leave our couch while we´re doing it. Where we leave all of our energy if front of the screen basically and don´t actually get out and vote or organize or think creatively about what policy might look like". Then he says that what the US and Russia currently have in common is being an oligarchy, with racial overtones. Can someone translate bit by bit what this man is saying? I don´t recognize a bit of it.

[@redanwrong]

"putin wants you to be angry in a way where you don't leave the couch" hmmm, so like anyone currently in power. yes. interesting. v deep.

[@ObeySilence]

Just pure Propaganda. Look at this Thumbnail omg.

[@gemnox]

He completely misrepresents Ilyan. I've read less than 10 chapters of him and I can already smell the bullshit from a mile away

[@MarkMcAllister-ni9sf]

EVERYTHING is Fascism today?! More like a way to silence politics you disagree with...label it fascist.

[@colonelcracken3805]

You have a good point

[@lizbosh7545]

This isn't how I would interprete him. I suppose it depends if you are a "Liberal". It's the Great Awakening vs the Great Reset

[@Healing411]

Philosopher fine..do we see that stuff or not?

[@scottsanders5821]

Very, very small think.