The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America

 
　　隨著冷戰結束，自由民主似乎贏得最終的勝利。觀察家們宣佈歷史終結，對和平與全球化的未來充滿信心。
 
　　他們都錯了。威權主義已重返俄羅斯，普丁發現富人的統治可以實踐法西斯主義。2010 年代，在烏克蘭的俄羅斯戰爭與發生於歐美的網路戰爭幫助之下，它已由東向西蔓延。俄羅斯在各地找到盟友，那些民族主義者、寡頭集團、與激進份子，他們對解除西方制度、國家與價值觀都深感共鳴。民粹主義的興起、英國脫歐投票與川普的選舉都是俄羅斯的目標，但他們的成就卻也映照出西方社會的脆弱性。
 
　　耶魯歷史學教授提摩西・史奈德（Timothy Snyder）在其前作–紐約時報 Top1 暢銷書《論暴政》（On Tyranny）–之中，提供預防專制再臨的措施，給予各個從專政脫離不等時間的各國國民借鏡與警惕。今年新作 The Road to Unfreedom 則以對俄羅斯、歐洲與美國廣泛的研究與觀察，指出威權主義興起的事實與步驟，並揭露威脅民主和法律的真正本質。平等與極權、個體與集體、真實與虛假是我們目前面臨的抉擇，為了迎接挑戰，必須再度重申傳統政治的美德。在這駭人的過渡時期中，史奈德帶給我們的將不只是一盞明燈，而是一條精確的道路。
 
　　「卓越卻使人憂慮的分析，任何想了解當前席捲世界的政治危機的人都應該閱讀。」–《人類大歷史》作者哈拉瑞
 
　　「史奈德對於俄羅斯現狀——以及其對美國與歐洲的威脅——之恐懼，為他的寫作的帶來能量與熱情。他毫不避諱地控訴普丁治下的俄羅斯…但他也很清楚美國社會的弱點，脆弱的美國很容易受到俄羅斯的干預與國內民粹主義的影響。」–《金融時報》吉迪恩．拉赫曼（文 / 博客來編譯）
 

　　From the author of On Tyranny comes a stunning new chronicle of the rise of authoritarianism from Russia to Europe and America.
 
　　With the end of the Cold War, the victory of liberal democracy was thought to be final. Observers declared the end of history, confident in a peaceful, globalized future. This faith was misplaced. Authoritarianism returned to Russia, as Putin found fascist ideas that could be used to justify rule by the wealthy. In the 2010s, it has spread from east to west, aided by Russian warfare in Ukraine and cyberwar and information war in Europe and the United States. 
 
　　Russia found allies among nationalists and oligarchs everywhere, and its drive to dissolve Western institutions, states, and values found resonance within the West itself.  The rise of populism, the British vote against the EU, and the election of Donald Trump were all Russian goals, but their achievement reveals the vulnerability of Western societies and the uncertain character of Western political order.
 
　　This threat to Western democracy presents an opportunity to better understand the pillars of our own political order. In this forceful and unsparing work of contemporary history, based on vast research as well as personal reporting, Snyder goes beyond the headlines to expose the true nature of the threat to democracy and law. By showcasing the stark choices before us--between equality or oligarchy, individuality or totality, truth and falsehood--Snyder restores our understanding of the basis of our way of life, offering a way forward in a time of terrible uncertainty.