Timothy Snyder Speaks, ep. 3: What is Oligarchy?
Summary
Timothy Snyder defines oligarchy as rule by the wealthy few, tracing its modern emergence in 1990s Russia and its threat to democracy. He argues that the US Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling facilitates this shift by allowing unlimited corporate influence. Snyder contends that the US is currently teetering between democracy and oligarchy, with Donald Trump exhibiting traits of a "wannabe oligarch." He warns that such regimes suffer from "oligarchical impotence," lacking clear succession and effective policy, instead focusing on identity affirmation and sadopopulism.
Topics discussed
Introduction and the request to discuss oligarchy
Defining oligarchy and its opposition to democracy
Classical views: Thucydides, Aristotle, and Plato
The rise of oligarchy in 1990s Russia and Putin's consolidation
Oligarchical impotence: succession and policy failures
Citizens United and the shift toward oligarchy in the US
Is the US an oligarchy? Wealth concentration and elections
Donald Trump as a would-be oligarch and policy stagnation
Government as identity affirmation and sadopopulism
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