The Road to Unfreedom Summary

“History allows us to see moments when freedom is possible or when it is in danger; our willingness to act defines the outcome.”

1. The Philosophy of Ivan Ilyin Shapes Modern Russia

Vladimir Putin’s political ideology has been heavily influenced by Ivan Ilyin, a Russian philosopher with fascist leanings. Ilyin envisioned a Russian state ruled by a savior-like leader who would unify the nation by focusing on external and internal enemies. Ilyin’s ideas idealized a rejection of democratic systems in favor of a single, strong authority. He believed propaganda, not reason, should guide the masses.

Putin revived Ilyin’s dormant ideas after his election in 2000. He promoted Ilyin’s writings in schools, gave complete collections of his works to officials, and even reburied Ilyin’s remains in Moscow. The use of Ilyin’s philosophy became more prominent as Putin positioned himself as the defender of Russian values against external threats like Western liberal ideology.

Putin adopted Ilyin’s model of leadership, portraying himself as the defensive guardian of Russia against supposed conspiracies. The revival of this philosophy has set the stage for Russia’s political shift towards authoritarianism. It also offers a blueprint for other leaders struggling with legitimacy to centralize power.

Examples

• Putin transported Ilyin’s body from Switzerland to Moscow for reburial in 2005.
• Russian civil servants were required to read Ilyin’s works as part of their indoctrination.
• State-sponsored media glorified concepts of Russian exceptionalism, rooted in Ilyin’s teachings.

2. Putin Consolidated Power Using Fear and Propaganda

Shortly after taking office, Putin capitalized on fear following a series of violent bombings in Russia in 1999. He blamed Chechen separatists, launching the Second Chechen War and presenting himself as a savior who would protect the Russian people from terrorism. Fueled by patriotic sentiment, his popularity rose sharply.

Putin's administrations quickly dismantled opposition by placing all major media outlets under state control and expanding the powers of the security forces. Independent election observers documented voter fraud during parliamentary elections, but the government dismissed complaints as foreign interference. This narrative further stirred fears that the West sought to destabilize Russia.

The rise of propaganda master Vladislav Surkov made it easier to secure public loyalty. Surkov weaponized media narratives to justify Putin's increasing grip on power. The government worked to create and exploit crises, ensuring public dependency on Putin for stability.

Examples

• The 1999 bombings raised Putin’s approval rating from 2% to 35%.
• In 2002, a theater hostage crisis was used as justification for seizing control over television networks.
• Putin accused anti-government protesters of being paid by Western countries, framing dissent as treason.

3. Russia’s Conflict With the European Union Took a New Turn in 2013

Initially, Russia saw the European Union as an equal counterpart, coexisting peacefully on the global stage. However, after the parliamentary protests of 2011-12 over election fraud, the EU was reframed as an adversary attacking Russian sovereignty. In 2013, Putin chose a new strategy: weakening the EU by exporting political dysfunction.

This policy shift began with the promotion of a concept Putin called "Eurasia," designed as a rival union to the EU. To sabotage his European counterpart, Putin deployed covert cyber operations. Propaganda targeting French and British audiences was spread through social media campaigns and hacked media outlets. Putin aimed to foster division and extremism within democracies.

Disturbing events like Brexit highlighted the effectiveness of these tactics. Anti-EU narratives supported by Russian operatives swayed public opinion, leading to Britain’s departure from the EU. This marked a significant victory for Putin’s campaign against European unity.

Examples

• French TV networks were hacked in 2015 to broadcast ISIS propaganda and instill fear.
• Russian internet trolls disseminated anti-EU messages to UK voters before the Brexit vote.
• Pro-Russian accounts amplified far-right candidates’ messages during French and British elections.

4. The Euromaidan Protests in Ukraine Stood Against Eurasian Imperialism

Putin saw Ukraine’s increasing alignment with the EU as a threat to his vision for "Eurasia." In 2013, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych withdrew from signing a trade agreement with the EU after direct intervention by Putin. This sparked protests across Ukraine, which escalated into a demand for democratic governance and a rejection of Russian influence.

Putin's response was ruthless. Riot police violently attacked protesters in Kyiv, and disinformation campaigns framed Western support for Ukraine as foreign meddling. Protests intensified in reaction to human rights violations, with the Ukrainian public condemning attempts to stifle their autonomy.

The tipping point came when protesters were massacred by snipers, leading to Yanukovych fleeing the country. Russia shifted its strategy to direct military action by annexing Crimea, an illegal move condemned worldwide. This intervention sowed conflict that left Ukraine vulnerable and divided.

Examples

• Ukrainian riot police escalated violence with help from Russian intelligence agents.
• Government forces killed nearly 100 protesters in Kyiv during the Euromaidan protests.
• Russia conducted a staged referendum in Crimea to justify the illegal annexation.

5. Propaganda Underpinned Russia’s Global Strategy of Disruption

Putin used propaganda both at home and abroad to manipulate perceptions. Domestically, Russian citizens were told they were victims of Western aggression. When Flight MH17 was shot down in 2014, Russian media circulated false claims that Ukrainians had intended to assassinate Putin. This narrative sought to absolve Russia of blame while portraying the West as hostile.

Internationally, Putin deployed propaganda to destabilize rivals through strategic relativism. In Germany, for example, Merkel’s acceptance of Syrian refugees was weaponized using fake news about refugee crimes. This amplified anti-immigrant sentiment and empowered far-right political groups like Germany’s AfD.

Propaganda became a mainstay of Putin’s strategy to redefine modern geopolitics. It fueled divisions in democratic societies, exploited existing insecurities, and supplied authoritarian-friendly narratives to vulnerable audiences.

Examples

• Russian state media framed refugees in Europe as violent criminals to create social discord.
• Claims about Merkel’s policies led to protests orchestrated by right-wing groups.
• False accounts of refugee crimes gained traction on social media, driven by bots.

6. Russian Influence Helped Donald Trump Win the U.S. Presidency

The election of Donald Trump in 2016 exposed Russia's growing foreign influence. Putin saw an opportunity in Trump, someone who could weaken American unity and tilt power dynamics in Russia’s favor. Trump’s real estate businesses received investment from shell companies linked to Russian oligarchs, bolstering his campaign finances.

Russian hackers accessed U.S. systems, strategically leaking emails to damage Hillary Clinton's reputation. Social media platforms were flooded with disinformation favorable to Trump. Russian-funded propaganda was so extensive that most American voters encountered it in some form during the election.

The effort culminated in Trump’s victory, signifying a disrupted American political system. With Trump's policies prioritizing wealth redistribution to the elite and embracing nationalistic rhetoric, Putin's strategic relativism had succeeded in diminishing the U.S.'s global standing.

Examples

• Russian operatives hacked the Democratic National Committee and leaked damaging emails.
• Fake Facebook and Twitter accounts created pro-Trump content that was shared millions of times.
• Russian investments in Trump businesses spiked during his campaign, hinting at political motives.

Takeaways

1. Be critical of the information you consume, especially news from unknown or questionable sources, to identify and counteract propaganda.
2. Support transparency and fair governance in your community to prevent the rise of authoritarian policies.
3. Protect democratic institutions by advocating for cybersecurity measures to stop foreign interference in elections.