Context:

Three Yale professors, Marci Shore, Timothy Snyder, and Jason Stanley, have decided to move to Canada, citing concerns over the current state of democracy in the United States. They highlight instances of legal residents being detained without due process, students being punished for expressing opinions, and federal judges facing threats of impeachment for opposing the administration. Stanley views his move as a protest against the Trump administration's undermining of civil liberties, while Shore fears a regression in American democracy, likening it to a sinking ship. Snyder's decision is driven by personal reasons, including family support and the desire to engage in open discussions about freedom in a conducive environment at the University of Toronto. Despite differing personal motivations, they agree that ignoring attacks on democratic institutions could lead to a significant democratic crisis in the U.S.

Dive Deeper:

• Marci Shore, Timothy Snyder, and Jason Stanley, all Yale professors and experts on authoritarianism, are moving to Canada due to concerns about the erosion of democracy in the United States. Their decision serves as both a warning and a call to action regarding the current political climate.

• Instances of democratic backsliding include legal residents being sent to foreign prisons without due process, students being detained for their opinions, and threats of impeachment against federal judges who challenge the administration.

• Jason Stanley's departure is an act of protest against what he perceives as the Trump administration's attacks on civil liberties, emphasizing the urgency of recognizing this as a democratic emergency.

• Marci Shore, with extensive experience studying Central and Eastern European authoritarianism, parallels the current American situation to a sinking ship, emphasizing the inevitability of failure if threats to democracy are ignored.

• Timothy Snyder's move is primarily motivated by personal reasons, such as supporting his family and seeking a more open intellectual environment in Toronto, though he shares his colleagues' concerns about the increasing difficulty of discussing freedom in the U.S.

• Despite their different motivations for leaving, all three professors agree that neglecting or minimizing the importance of attacks on legal and educational systems poses a significant threat to the foundational principles of democracy.

• The professors' decision to leave is underscored by their comprehensive body of work, which includes books on tyranny and fascism, providing a scholarly backdrop to their concerns about the current state of American governance.