A Russian Phrasebook for Surviving Authoritarianism

Modern authoritarianism relies on specific, often subtle mechanisms that require a precise vocabulary to identify and resist. Maria Kuznetsova and Dan Storyev, authors of *How to Survive Authoritarianism: A Russian Phrasebook for Everyday Life in America*, analyze how Russian political concepts—such as *ruchnoye upravlenye* (manual control) and *chelobitnaya* (knee-bent petition)—manifest in contemporary American politics. These terms describe the concentration of power in a single executive, the use of political technologists to manipulate elections, and the creation of *budgetniki*, or state-dependent populations, to legitimize rule. By fostering an "information dumpster" of contradictory realities, these regimes encourage public apathy and inner emigration. Developing a shared lexicon for these tactics is essential for recognizing the erosion of democratic norms, as naming these phenomena serves as the critical first step toward effective political resistance.