What is “Living in Truth”?
The concept of “living in truth” originates from Czech dissident-turned-president Václav Havel in his 1978 essay The Power of the Powerless. He argues that the core element of authoritarian rule is the perpetuation and acceptance of falsehoods:
The post-totalitarian system touches people at every step, but it does so with its ideological gloves on. This is why life in the system is so thoroughly permeated with hypocrisy and lies: government by bureaucracy is called popular government... the complete degradation of the individual is presented as his ultimate liberation; depriving people of information is called making it available...farcical elections become the highest form of democracy. Because the regime is captive to its own lies, it must falsify everything. It falsifies the past. It falsifies the present, and it falsifies the future. (p. 136).
Individuals within such systems are expected to behave as though they believe these lies, as though they support the government and its policies.
Havel’s broader point in the essay is that there is power in everyday authenticity. “Living in truth” means refusing to simply lay down and accept the lies or ideas perpetuated by those in power, but to behave consistently with your own values and seek the actual truth in the world around you.
What is this Substack About?
This Substack is about democracy and authoritarianism. I came of age academically studying authoritarian government in China, and of late I can’t help but see parallels between the authoritarian practices I’ve studied in China and the tactics used by Donald Trump and his faction of the GOP. Democracy worldwide is in recession, and now over 70% of the global population lives under authoritarian rule. In many places, spreading lies and using those lies to dominate has become a key feature of governance and control. As a concept and life philosophy, living in truth is more relevant now than ever.
Who Is Writing This?
I’m Associate Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University. You can find my academic website here. My research and teaching focuses on Chinese politics, specifically China’s policymaking process, public opinion, and repression/human rights. My commentary on China has been featured in The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, South China Morning Post, and other outlets. I have come to Substack because I have grown to appreciate the value of writing independently, and frankly all those fancy places are tired of me submitting Op-Eds they don’t want to publish.
What Do You Stand For?
It’s odd for academics to actually write out their values, but in this moment I think it’s important for people to be clear eyed about what they stand for. I stand for democracy, fairness, and authenticity. I believe our conclusions and policies should be driven by evidence and data, and that science should be protected and respected. I am against militarism, corruption, and authoritarianism, in all their different forms.
Another Havel quote that I like is, “Anyone who takes himself too seriously always runs the risk of looking ridiculous; anyone who can consistently laugh at himself does not.” This Substack is already teetering on the self-righteous, and I haven’t even written that much yet. So please feel free to take me down a peg if it gets a bit much.
Do I Have to Pay?
My goal with this newsletter is to build a community and help give people some analytical tools to think about authoritarianism, in the U.S. and elsewhere. I am not in it for money, and I do not intend to paywall any content or push for paid subscriptions that way. I also understand that times are tight for many people, that subscriptions add up, and that there is a lot of economic uncertainty in the air.
You may now choose to make a financial contribution to this newsletter, and I am always appreciative of that support. But please only do so if the following conditions hold:
The $5 a month does not present a financial hardship in any way, and you are financially secure.
You have seen sustained value in my writing over time.
You are not a current or recent student or are in some other form of hierarchical relationship with me (i.e. junior faculty, etc.).
If any of these do not hold, please do not pay. It doesn’t hurt my feelings, and I am just as appreciative of you reading and sharing my posts.
How Often Will You Write?
I plan on writing a column on most Sundays. If you like what I write please share with a few friends. That would help me out.
