The Road to Unfreedom audiobook cover - Russia, Europe, America

The Road to Unfreedom

Russia, Europe, America

Timothy Snyder

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The Road to Unfreedom
Core Political Concepts+
Philosophical Foundation+
Domestic Consolidation in Russia+
Eurasian Imperialism & Ukraine+
Destabilizing Europe+
Targeting the United States+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
According to Snyder, what characterizes the 'politics of eternity'?
  • A. The belief that the future will necessarily be a slowly progressing continuation of the present.
  • B. A fearful state of mind where citizens believe they are perpetually threatened by enemies and expect the government only to protect them.
  • C. A political system that guarantees continuous economic and social progress through democratic elections.
  • D. The utopian idea that global peace can be achieved through international trade and cooperation.
Question 2 of 8
Whose philosophical ideas did Vladimir Putin revive to serve as the foundation for his political ideology?
  • A. Vladimir Lenin, focusing on a global communist revolution.
  • B. Boris Yeltsin, emphasizing a rapid transition to free-market capitalism.
  • C. Ivan Ilyin, a Christian fascist who advocated for a right-wing dictatorship led by a savior-like figure.
  • D. Aleksandr Dugin, a modern political scientist advocating for a multi-party democratic Eurasian union.
Question 3 of 8
How did Vladimir Putin initially consolidate his power and dramatically boost his approval ratings in 1999?
  • A. By successfully negotiating a historic trade agreement with the European Union.
  • B. By launching a rapid privatization program that enriched the Russian middle class.
  • C. By blaming Chechen terrorists for a series of deadly apartment bombings and launching a swift military response.
  • D. By exposing widespread corruption within Boris Yeltsin's outgoing administration.
Question 4 of 8
What was Russia's primary strategy regarding the European Union starting around 2013?
  • A. To apply for formal EU membership to secure economic stability for Russia.
  • B. To destroy the EU from within using covert measures, cyberattacks, and propaganda to support far-right movements.
  • C. To create a joint military alliance with the EU to counter the influence of the United States.
  • D. To outcompete the EU economically by heavily investing in green technology and infrastructure.
Question 5 of 8
What triggered the initial 2013 protests in Ukraine that eventually led to the annexation of Crimea?
  • A. The Ukrainian government's decision to join NATO despite Russian warnings.
  • B. President Viktor Yanukovych's sudden reversal on signing an Association Agreement with the European Union.
  • C. The assassination of a prominent pro-European Ukrainian journalist by Russian intelligence agents.
  • D. A staged referendum in Crimea that forced Ukrainian citizens to adopt Russian passports.
Question 6 of 8
Which of the following best describes Putin's tactic of 'strategic relativism'?
  • A. Weakening adversaries through disinformation and covert intervention to gain relative power when direct competition is impossible.
  • B. Forming temporary alliances with rival nations to defeat a common enemy before turning on them.
  • C. Shifting domestic policies rapidly between left-wing and right-wing ideologies to confuse political opponents.
  • D. Using overwhelming military force to completely conquer neighboring territories and expand borders.
Question 7 of 8
How did Russian state media portray the tragic shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17?
  • A. They admitted it was a tragic accident caused by poorly trained pro-Russian separatists.
  • B. They blamed the United States for providing faulty intelligence to the commercial pilots.
  • C. They claimed it was shot down by a Ukrainian missile that was actually intended to assassinate Vladimir Putin.
  • D. They ignored the event entirely, refusing to broadcast any news related to the crash.
Question 8 of 8
According to the text, what was Putin's ultimate goal in interfering with the 2016 United States presidential election?
  • A. To force the United States to lift economic sanctions placed on Russian oligarchs.
  • B. To remake America in Russia's image by accelerating its move toward the politics of eternity and increasing inequality.
  • C. To secure a military alliance with the US against the expanding economic influence of China.
  • D. To provoke a direct military conflict between the US and the European Union.

The Road to Unfreedom — Full Chapter Overview

The Road to Unfreedom Summary & Overview

The Road to Unfreedom (2018) chronicles the extraordinary political age we are now living in. Russian expansionism, led by Vladimir Putin, threatens to encroach on the freedoms that people in Europe and America enjoy. After having successfully helping to bring about Brexit, the Kremlin set its gaze on the United States and, in doing so, played a central role in ushering in the Donald Trump presidency. And with Europe in the midst of a right-wing ascendancy, Russia is wielding a greater influence than ever before.

Who Should Listen to The Road to Unfreedom?

  • Anyone hoping to understand why right-wing populism is on the rise
  • Americans looking to find out how Russia influenced the 2016 election
  • Students of political science, international relations or history

About the Author: Timothy Snyder

Timothy Snyder is an American author and the Richard C. Levin Professor of History at Yale University. In addition to being a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna, he has authored numerous critically-acclaimed historical works such as Bloodlands and On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century.

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