If you think democracy is some kind of inevitable, default setting for the world, then you aren’t going to have it for very long, says historian and author Timothy Snyder. From World War I to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Snyder dives into the structures that uplift and tear down political systems, offering a historical perspective on the current state of democracy around the world as well as the patterns of thought that lead to tyranny. Learn more about a new approach to democracy that could help create and protect a future of freedom.
This conversation, hosted by TED current affairs curator Whitney Pennington Rodgers, was part of an exclusive TED Membership event. Visit to become a TED Member.
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#TED #TEDTalks #democracy
Moon Walk
February 8, 2023 at 7:56 pm
The states are doomed, not democracy
Casey Czarnomski
February 8, 2023 at 7:57 pm
We need anarchy, and anarchy is not chaos.
I see love
February 8, 2023 at 8:52 pm
Very, very few people have the mind set to be able to coexist without a ruler. It’s a bummer.
Gage
February 8, 2023 at 8:04 pm
Democracy is not real. It has only been proven to have existed in one ancient city and only for a time. Representative Republics are what we mostly have around the world with Oligarchy coming in second. Unfortunately even these ideals are overridden by plutocracy not so hidden even in the ideal Republic. Nations have largely collapsed due to trade globalization and they won’t come back. The idea of a nation is flawed by it’s own inflammatory dogma.
bj0rn
February 8, 2023 at 8:05 pm
This seemed like a great opportunity for introspection.
Sadly it turned mostly into evasive criticism of “them” and how we need to fix them.
Next talk should be about the decline of TED and whether it is beyond saving.
Karen Reaves
February 8, 2023 at 8:14 pm
Blacks Law definition of Democracy is Monarchy, only slaves are using the term. The Monarchy is very wealthy not the people. Democracy and Socialism is Communism= Zero Freedom. Death when you don’t comply. Again they are very wealthy the people are impoverished. We are a Constitutional Federal Republic overthrown. Article’s of Confederation, Our founder’s set up our Military first and Separately under Military Law for such a time as this. We the People will Abolish the UnConstitutional permanent bureaucracy. The CIA began in 1947 over Pearl Harbor which was a lie. Operation Paper Clip brought the real war criminals to America and the UN. Simply changed their names, and placed them in our Government. None of the real war criminals were prosecuted in the Nuremberg Trials. Draining the swamp worldwide continues.
RuyLopezQB6
February 8, 2023 at 8:21 pm
Doom would be the media, big tech, the military industrial complex, WEF, WHO and government confusing, spying on and controlling the population, controlling the narrative in a authoritarian nightmare – just like YouTube polices videos based on the whims of the WHO, unelected individuals with their own specific interests, not the safety of the population. When you make a video about that, perhaps people will care.
Andy Cordy
February 8, 2023 at 8:22 pm
Early in this talk the subject of personal responsibility was mentioned. Complacency and comfort among a majority in a population busy with personal interest has led to a small ruling class of opportunistic predators who will promise to take on the responsibility of government, will promise anything in return for the right to rule, will deliver only what suits their purposes and feather their own nest.
bj0rn
February 8, 2023 at 8:30 pm
According to Timothy, it is a mistake to think democracy is a thing that is promoted or undermined by greater forces, such as capitalism or inequality. He argues that it is rather an attitude or practice that individuals must uphold. Then he says democracy cannot exist in a petroleum driven world. Isn’t this a huge contradiction, or am I missing something?
Joe Doaks
February 8, 2023 at 10:25 pm
His connecting fossil fuel consumption and the down fall of democracy has an intellectual chasm I cannot find my way through or over.
Longbranch Olivetti
February 8, 2023 at 8:35 pm
Depends. If you’re american, it’s long gone.
Kevin COVINGTON
February 8, 2023 at 8:39 pm
With the Internet, not even in full swing, I THINK we are seeing the death of democracy. And its going to come from UNEDUCATED, UNCOUTH IDIOTS! There should be an exam to get a voting card.
Homer Simpson
February 8, 2023 at 8:47 pm
Screw Democracy, I want Artificial Intelligence to rule us all.
Ligia Sommers
February 8, 2023 at 9:19 pm
Very important talk 🙏🏻🇺🇦💙💛✨🙏🏻
Jeff Patterson
February 8, 2023 at 9:21 pm
Most democracies, in my experience, began, as soon as they formed, to undermine the ethical foundations on which they were formed, including not fully accepting ethics in the very founding documents ie. all men created equal. (Not the rich, not the black, not the weak, etc., etc., etc..
HAZIEL
February 8, 2023 at 9:29 pm
Of course it is.
TheNiteinjail
February 8, 2023 at 10:00 pm
Yes, because profit seeking will tank it.
EL Gee
February 8, 2023 at 10:02 pm
Direct democraty is needed
George Soong
February 8, 2023 at 10:12 pm
People think democracy is a “system” rather than the mentality of each person to take responsibility.
Nancy Offenhiser
February 8, 2023 at 10:15 pm
Boy, you can really tell in these comments, who’s a boomer with perspective and who’s not.
Who’s educated, and who’s not.
And those are who are just trolls.
Joe Doaks
February 8, 2023 at 10:21 pm
From my ol perch, democracy is social chaos IF there is no ‘republic if you can keep it’ as the channel for political, social and economic expression, which has to rely on some injection of cooperation as a buffer for rote greed born competition and it’s concomitant monopoly mind.
Humans live in perpetual fear of a paucity in sustaining a safe, respectable and reasoned social and cultural community.
We organize, knowing we must give up an amount of personal freedom along with a requirement for individual participation…I do believe that here in the US, the obesity theme of ill health is also reflected in closets, garages, back yard sheds and storage units proliferating…we have much fat to shed in the name of individual, social and cultural health.
Nancy Offenhiser
February 8, 2023 at 10:51 pm
I would really like to see this gentleman in a head-to-head debate with Daniel Pink.
Belinda Anthony
February 8, 2023 at 11:35 pm
Thank you Jesus for the gift of life and Blessings upon me and my family. $32,000 weekly profit Our Lord Jesus have lifted up my Life!!!
Louise pearl
February 8, 2023 at 11:50 pm
@Belinda Anthony Good information, thanks for recommending a legit BROKER associate in the states 🇺🇸
Keith Boyd Chapman
February 8, 2023 at 11:51 pm
Menhhh this good stuff, her platform is booming 🔥🔥 I got in touch with her and saw profit for my self!❤️
Phil Jones
February 8, 2023 at 11:51 pm
SHE IS LEGITIMATE AND REAL, DON’T FEEL WHAT I FELT AT THE FIRST TIME, COS I WAS VERY SKEPTICAL AT THE INITIAL TIME
Teresa D. Busch
February 8, 2023 at 11:52 pm
HONESTLY, I WILL SAY SHE IS AN ANGEL WHO GOD HAS SENT TO HELP THE NEEDY
Cody S
February 9, 2023 at 12:35 am
It is very real! Don’t worry friend who is skeptical regular real person. My English shows I am very person and good for investing! Jesus gave me a million dollars and a hug. Why not give me your credit card number, OK. I am not obvious scammer, no way!
Samson Fernendez
February 8, 2023 at 11:45 pm
Is democracy only for beings who have a voice? Specifically the ability to speak human languages?
Всеволод Тищенко
February 9, 2023 at 12:39 am
If everything is for the people and all governments do everything for the people. Why are some governments playing with people’s lives, pitting people against each other over ideals? It seems to me that this is outside the political system.
Googlie Googlinkty
February 9, 2023 at 1:00 am
Offcourse….very flawed and dangerous…..see how politics are going on in the usa……also the criminal justice system is totally alienated and messed up.
kk
February 9, 2023 at 1:21 am
Everyone define democracy differently. We need to have certain criteria that a country have to meet to be called a democracy. In my mind the most important criteria is that everyone is equal to the law unfortunately extremely few to 0 countries meet this criteria
Vimlesh Dubey
February 9, 2023 at 5:35 am
ini 27स90सफाई
jochen zimmermann
February 9, 2023 at 3:03 pm
you should re-watch the video, since you seem to have missed snyders main point. it’s not about “democracy” as a thing, it’s about what WE – every single one of us – do about it. if we just say “ah, there isn’t a real democracy anyway” what we really say is “ah, individually we can’t do anything because we’re not a democracy anyway”.
example: iran is NOT a democracy, since people there aren’t equal to the law. but that does not mean people there cannot act towards democracy. otherwise they wouldn’t be protesting, “because we’re not a democracy anyway, so nothing will change no matter what we do”.
it’s like discussing the definition of “health” when your doctor tells you that you have cancer. sure, you can just define yourself as healthy or unhealthy and ignore the diagnosis. or you can ACT towards your own health, and do what your doctor tells you.
David Jennings
February 9, 2023 at 1:35 am
Capitalism doesn’t bring democracy, it brings the facade of democracy to mask oligarchy.
Jenny Coffey
February 9, 2023 at 1:43 am
Humanitarian guns for those self proclaimed Nazis and ,”take our money and say and govern as we say,” soft power has lost any logical statement. Diplomacy became censorship propaganda overlaped w/intrigue by eeg erp spies sanction and censorship on the least for representation and Epstien led court access. There is no democracy save the drama planned to rephrase hybrid domination goals as democratic.
snotgroup
February 9, 2023 at 1:57 am
Although there are several obstacles and challenges facing democracy around the world, it is not doomed. Among the difficulties are:
Political polarization and division: People on opposing sides of the political spectrum are becoming more firmly set in their beliefs, which has resulted in toxic political debate in many nations. Because of this, it is challenging for governments to agree on crucial topics and take action that is in the interests of the populace.
The growth of authoritarianism: In certain nations, the ruling class is eroding democratic institutions and standards in favor of consolidating control. This may result in violations of human rights, corruption, and a weakening of the rule of law.
Election meddling and misinformation: In the digital age, it
Sleepy1988
February 9, 2023 at 2:58 am
Political polarization….I welcome it….there has been enough polarization between Moscow and Kiev on whether Ukraine will be independent, and now they’re settling things as they ultimately only can be settled, on the battlefield. I hope to one day settle things likewise in my own country. When one side has killed off enough of the other, then there can be some consensus.
Weromano
February 9, 2023 at 2:38 am
how is capitalism compatible with democratic principles?
The economic leaders are not elected!
Bon Joshua
February 9, 2023 at 2:39 am
The way he pronounce his words is very loud and clear. It can be easily understood by many, due to that fact the way they speak and express their thoughts is very clear and precise. Overall the speaker is has a good verbal communication.
Human driver 5280
February 9, 2023 at 2:52 am
Former Communist countries usually go one of two ways. Falling into the hands of organized crime and or fascism. Therefore democracy is a farce in those areas. Here is a question. Why are no commentators mentioning the corruption and organized crime in Ukraine prior to war? Ukraine is a marginal democracy not a western standards democracy. The fight for Ukraine, at least for its citizens, is really a fight for the lesser evil. Nevertheless, its necessary to overcome the appeasement baggage of the past.
Sleepy1988
February 9, 2023 at 2:56 am
I live in California, I am pro gun, I have all of my life since I strongly adopted such views around 2005 been under the thumb of the majority of “the people” in my state who are anti-gun democrats, independents, or Republicans. From my experiences, and others, but particularly watching the first Croatian president mocking fleeing Serbs after the Croat majority forcibly evicted them, I have come to the conclusion Democracy is mediocre at best, if you are the political majority, and miserable and disempowering if you are in a political minority. Democracy is misery and can die, I don’t really care much what replaces it, even if that’s some totalitarian form of government. Ancient Athens is the birthplace of democracy, and ancient Athens engaged in “Trireme diplomacy”, just as the US engages in “carrier diplomacy” today. Democracies will strong arm and oppress others, as will other forms of government. I only care to be on the winning side, ultimately.
m
February 9, 2023 at 4:17 am
It’s not doomed for educated people around the world. The uneducated never had democracy in the first place.
DAnuchan
February 9, 2023 at 5:11 am
Make our representatives legally bound to vote for their campaign promises.
Chris Freebairn
February 12, 2023 at 12:41 pm
Start by getting the big anonymous money out of politics, it all flows from that.
Stickman
February 9, 2023 at 6:04 am
Wow they actually have somebody on TED that doesn’t sound like they’re sponsoring some United Nations new world globalist agenda
aristochat3
February 9, 2023 at 7:27 am
Imagine argument potatoes sloshing about in a tepid soup, being held by a passenger driving along a road full of curves. This is this guys brain.
Travis Berthelot
February 9, 2023 at 8:40 am
Yes. Democracy in a bubble is just mob rule. To have Democracy survive you need 2 things: 1. Social contract that includes sound money, national defense, and general welfare as the main functions of government. 2. The adherence to that social contract by the voters.
Travis Berthelot
February 9, 2023 at 8:42 am
Tyranny of the majority is not welcome or desired, but that is all that Democracy alone provides. Once a government moves away from sound money, national defense, and general welfare then you just have a tyranny that will obviously fail.
Travis Berthelot
February 9, 2023 at 8:45 am
Dictate by 1 or the majority is the same.
Chris Freebairn
February 12, 2023 at 1:05 pm
@Travis Berthelot metaphorically yes, literally, no. Majority beats 1 but consensus beats majority. The filibuster imposes consensus to thwart the ills of majoritarianism, but when an opposition rejects completely the implied politico-social contract & votes en bloc, what then? That act is, in effect, treason, ie a plot to thwart the politico-social contract upon which the ability of government to function is based; it is also deeply cynical in that it also refuses to allow a majority to govern – ‘unless it’s us’; so reject the initial contract, then reject the fall back contract, accept the contract as we define it & then only when we win!
Given that, what Biden achieved in 2 years shows what a skilled politician he is. Next 2 years will show just how bankrupt of legitimacy the GOP is – they’re at it already; the big question is, how many ppl realize that 2020-23 revealed the GOP as anti democratic, morally corrupt, treasonous hypocrites; which will, of course, reveal just how deep democracy (v tribalism) runs in the soul of modern America!
Travis Berthelot
February 12, 2023 at 4:22 pm
@Chris Freebairn Biden has done nothing in over 40 years of pretend service to reduce the size and roll of the tyrant state.
rein fedde de wolff
February 9, 2023 at 10:08 am
🎆THANK YOU
FOR THIS🌟 PRESENTATION👏/ DISCUSSION🌟/
DO AGREE/
THAT💚DEMOCRACY🌟
IS INDEED A DAILY😍STRUGGLE/
TO PROTECT
THE WELL WORKING🌟 OF IT/
AND REALIZE IMPROVEMENTS🤗/MODERNIZATION WITHIN GOVERNMENT 🌟INSTITUTIONS AND THE WELL FUNCTIONING🎆 OF ITS PEOPLE/
AS IS THE CASE IN 🌟PRIVATE BUSINESS.
OTHERWISE💥 AS UNDER THE WORST😰/TWICE IMPEACHED💥
🇺🇸AMERICAN PRESIDENT/ DONALD🤯TRUMP/
💥UNDERMINNG GOOD GOVERNMENT🌟/
IT WILL
HAVE MANY💥A REPERCUSSION😰.
THE 🇺🇸STRONG/STATE OF THE UNION💙 ADRRESS🤗/BY PRESIDENT 🇺🇲JOE BIDEN💙
TO CONGRESS THIS WEEK/ OFFERS HOPE🤗
BY WANTING TO RESTORE👏A.O. THE AMERICAN🇺🇸MIDDLE CLASS🌟/
FIGHTING AGAINST EXTREME💥
💥INEQUALITY👏 WITHIN 🇺🇲THE USA.
🇺🇸AMERICA UNDER THE ECONOMIC💥NEO LIBERAL/LAISSEZ😰FAIRE MODEL/(LEAVE EVERYTHING WITHOUT💥ANY REGULATION UP TO THE 🌟MARKET/THE INVISIBLE HAND/ADAM😍SMITH/SEEMS TO HAVE BECOME/🇺🇲AMERICA
💥INCORPORATED.
HOWEVER/
WHAT IS GOOD🌟 FOR A ✨️CORPORATION/SUCH AS💥 CORPORATIONS NOT🥲 PAYING A FAIR SHARE ON TAXATION/IS NOT💥 AUTOMATICALLY GOOD FOR A
🥰PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL/ PERSON.
A 💥STRANGE THING IN🇺🇲AMERICA IS SEEMINGLY “THE CITIZEN💥 UNITED CASE”.
A 🌟CORPORATION IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAME💥AS A PRIVATE🥰 PERSON/SEE CITIZEN💥 UNITED.
THIS IS CAUSING DISARRAY🥲/CONTRIBUTING TO 😰EXTREME INEQUALITY💥IT SEEMS LIKE/ WITHIN THE 🇺🇸USA🗽.
THIS IS NOT/LESS THE CASE IN🇪🇺🌟EUROPE UNDER THE🇪🇺RHINELAND🌟/SCANDINAVIAN 🌟ECONOMIC MODEL WITH A LOT LESS💥EXTREME INEQUALITY🤗.
CrudeleSpina
February 9, 2023 at 12:20 pm
You should care your people. Feel free to leave other countries alone.
jochen zimmermann
February 9, 2023 at 2:34 pm
i’d love to hear snyders thoughts on citizen assemblies.
M
February 9, 2023 at 2:52 pm
Meritocracy would the best. Democracy is not really “democratic” since people are slyly manipulated by others through the media.
Pinstripe
February 9, 2023 at 3:37 pm
Tim is a treasure and a true gentleman.
Umesh Rane
February 9, 2023 at 5:03 pm
Direct Democracy is the evolution of Democracy. We can develop decentralized blockchain based systems, so that people can directly engage in Government. The more people participate actively in Governance, we can focus more on issues that truely matters
The American American
February 9, 2023 at 5:33 pm
It’s easy when you ask yourself if you’d be willing to put your life on the line for democracy? Or for capitalism?
Democracy means freedom for all
Capitalism means freedom for the few
The choice is easy for me.
Julia Ponomarenko
February 9, 2023 at 6:34 pm
It is great. I am translating it into Ukrainian, it should be translated in many languages. It’s so comprehensible, provoking, encouraging, empowering.
The Troll Hunter
February 10, 2023 at 2:33 am
Imagine believing that we had real “Democracy” to begin with. 99.9% of the people in the West think Democracy means having the right to vote = power to choose the kind of government you want. It’s beyond hysterical.
Patrick Goldsmith
February 10, 2023 at 4:58 am
We the people working to support our system is the core of sane politics.
Tzvetan Petkov
February 10, 2023 at 10:40 am
Talks like that are close to useless from practical point of view. It’s a type of “intelligent wise people talking to intelligent wise people”. Intelligent wise people are a minority and usually they are knowledge seekers and not doers.
MR
February 10, 2023 at 1:28 pm
Inspiring
Carlette Southern-Robert
February 11, 2023 at 1:53 am
Democracy as a verb, it is a part of You, and You are a part of democracy.
Democracy is💫made real by action.💫
JBF
February 11, 2023 at 11:54 pm
Excellent program!!!
Gus Wruck
February 12, 2023 at 2:51 am
Excellent
Lauren Eck
February 12, 2023 at 6:00 am
I don’t like Zoom video formats
E- förlaget
February 12, 2023 at 8:07 am
My name is Eija I. Korhonen and I’m an author, artist and teacher (and alumna ph.d student at the university of Gothenburt, Sweden). Thank you for a great Ted talk. I would like to ad some “tiny things” to your talk about democracy, some” without which democracy is totally impossible! Democracy is also a question of ethics!!! Without the conviction of the rightfulness of Human Rights, i.e. that a person next to you, as well as a person in a far away country on the other side of the globe is of same importance as you yourself, i.e. without benevolence, democracy is not possible! This is ethics! Equality is also ethics! if you do not wish others the same health and prosperity that you enjoy yourself, you will not want to work for democracy, since democracy is work, as Timothy Snyder says. Democracy is´s a neverending “ongoing process”! How well it succeeds is also a question our beliefs! Do we believe in science, or do we believe in conspiratory theories or religious ones? It matters! The facts matters! We cannot – as i.e. Trump – deny the facts, for instance climat changes and what they bring! Still many of our wealthy fellow men believe in what they want to believe in order to sustain their wealth! Understandable, but this is not democratic! And the dictators of the world … like all dictators, they want to increase their power and wealth! – as you very well know.
Rikard
February 12, 2023 at 9:01 am
Nothing is ever doomed. It is how we deicide. The Russian state is ruled by a dictator that can fall or remain depends on the situation in Russia.
Abdul M
February 12, 2023 at 5:54 pm
The US is fighting yet another proxy war with Russia, lame, also extremely dangerous!