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Yale Prof. @TimothyDSnyder calls it "sadopopulism."
It explains how oligarchs—those who seek both power and wealth—seize power and stay in power.
The method comes to us from Putin.
Consider how much suffering is case when families lose food stamps, or health care . . .
Yale Prof. @TimothyDSnyder calls it "sadopopulism."
It explains how oligarchs—those who seek both power and wealth—seize power and stay in power.
The method comes to us from Putin.
Consider how much suffering is case when families lose food stamps, or health care . . .
@TimothyDSnyder 2/ . . or when the EPA won't ban a pesticide associated with health problems in children.
Sadopopulism is deceptively simple. Enact policies that cause massive suffering, and then direct the resulting pain and anger against the "enemies."
Sadopopulism is deceptively simple. Enact policies that cause massive suffering, and then direct the resulting pain and anger against the "enemies."
@TimothyDSnyder 3/ The "enemies" are immigrants, minority communities, and the Democrats who support them, and anyone trying to rise up.
For example, a talking point with Fox-Trump-GOP is that we can’t let in refugees because we don’t have enough resources for "real" Americans.
For example, a talking point with Fox-Trump-GOP is that we can’t let in refugees because we don’t have enough resources for "real" Americans.
@TimothyDSnyder 4/ A country in which all people prosper and share equally in the wealth can’t make this argument.
So the leader deprives people of resources—takes away their healthcare and food stamps, and poisons the rivers— and then says, “we don’t have enough to go around.”
So the leader deprives people of resources—takes away their healthcare and food stamps, and poisons the rivers— and then says, “we don’t have enough to go around.”
@TimothyDSnyder 5/ The leaders cause pain, and then they harness that pain, and turn the pain into anger against the "others" who are trying to take what belongs to "real" Americans.
For more on Sadopopulism, here is Timothy Snyder:
For more on Sadopopulism, here is Timothy Snyder:
@TimothyDSnyder 6/ Timothy Snyder explains how 21st century oligarchy—as opposed to oligarchies in the past—operate.
While Putin-style oligarchy has similarities to previous forms of fascism, it is distinct in in that the leaders deliberately hurt their supporters. . .
While Putin-style oligarchy has similarities to previous forms of fascism, it is distinct in in that the leaders deliberately hurt their supporters. . .
@TimothyDSnyder 7/ Hitler, for example, enacted politics that helped the Germans he considered ethnically pure; for example, allowing them to keep the plunder from the murdered Jews and other victims of the Nazis.
Modern oligarchs are different in that they want wealth as well as power.
Modern oligarchs are different in that they want wealth as well as power.
@TimothyDSnyder 8/ I am not a scholar of European history, remember.
I'm getting all of this from Timothy Snyder (one of my favorite scholars.)
He explains that normally, a leader enacts policies that help their own constituents. For example, pro-slavery presidents before the Civil War . . .
I'm getting all of this from Timothy Snyder (one of my favorite scholars.)
He explains that normally, a leader enacts policies that help their own constituents. For example, pro-slavery presidents before the Civil War . . .
@TimothyDSnyder 9/ . . . adopted measures that benefited white men.
In a liberal democracy👇, the leader thinks of ways to help the citizens.
Modern day oligarch (or heads of a mafia state, whichever term you prefer) can't enact policies that help their own constituents . . .
In a liberal democracy👇, the leader thinks of ways to help the citizens.
Modern day oligarch (or heads of a mafia state, whichever term you prefer) can't enact policies that help their own constituents . . .
@TimothyDSnyder 10/ . . .because if they do, other people will have the ability to advance and challenge their position at the top.
So the modern oligarch has to enact policies that directly harm the people who keep them in office.
This is related to the ruse whereby the GOP in the past. . .
So the modern oligarch has to enact policies that directly harm the people who keep them in office.
This is related to the ruse whereby the GOP in the past. . .
@TimothyDSnyder 11/ . . . persuaded voters to vote against their own economic interests—which they did by giving the voters something they wanted more than economic advancement: protection from their enemies, or others.
To become an actual oligarch, though, meaning . . .
To become an actual oligarch, though, meaning . . .
@TimothyDSnyder 12/ . . . possessing both wealth and power (with the aim of keeping that power) requires enacting policies that deliberately hurt the very people who support that oligarch.
Snyder also explains what he calls "governing by crisis and spectacle."
Snyder also explains what he calls "governing by crisis and spectacle."
@TimothyDSnyder 13/ An oligarch cannot do what normal leaders in liberal democracies do (govern in the interests of the people) so instead, they create drama, what Snyder calls "crisis and spectacle."
Trump is a natural at this.
Trump is a natural at this.
@TimothyDSnyder 14/ What is distinctive about 20th and 21st century fascism is that the leaders come to office elected by popular vote.
It therefore arose after the breakdown of the empires.
Fascism comes from a kind of populism and democratic process that is modern.
It therefore arose after the breakdown of the empires.
Fascism comes from a kind of populism and democratic process that is modern.
@TimothyDSnyder 15/ I assume fact that these leaders initially come to office through elections is what puts the "populism" into "sadopopulism" and what distinguishes it from simple cruelty.
The people who are actually hurt cheer the leader who is hurting them.
The people who are actually hurt cheer the leader who is hurting them.
