Authoritarian rulings are one of the biggest threats to human kind as we know it. Throughout this project we learned how to navigate and fight dictatorships, using a book called On Tyranny by Timothy D. Snyder. This book highlighted 21 lessons on how to fight authoritarian rulings, we took these concept to create or own opinions and thoughts on how we can fight for democracy.

Politics is something I never gave much thought to. I have always lived in a kind of bubble where life felt stable and secure, so it never seemed important to pay close attention our political climate. Throughout this project I gained new perspectives on how deeply politics shapes our lives and how important it is to stay engaged and educated. 

Keeping democracy alive can be as simple as voting, staying educated on political issues, and understating the values and goals of those in power, these are all ways we can ensure that our leaders represent us. I have come to the conclusion that political awareness is a responsibility  all of us have. 

I have also learned how education and building critical thinking skills in a population are essential for a healthy society. When people are able to think critically they can spot early signs of authoritarianism and are much better at challenging it before it’s too late. A well educated and informed population is the strongest combatant of a democracy. 

As part of our project, we created a class documentary exploring the signs of authoritarism and how it can be resisted. We used real-world examples , from both historical dictatorships and current events to show how dangerous authoritarian rule can be. The documentary was divided into 4 sections, media, institutions, how societies in the past have fallen, and how the people can fight back. I focused on the role of media and journalism institutions, specifically about how authoritarian rulers censor and manipulate media to control public perception and shape narratives in their favor. 

This project taught me how to apply my learning in the classroom to real world issues. I learned how to think critically about the political environment I live in and I developed a better understanding of how power can be abused. Creating the documentary made me take the concepts that we studied in class and connect them to issues from the past and present.

The biggest takeaway for me was realizing how much I’ve taken for granted. Living in a stable country like Canada, I’ve never had to fear for my rights or safety because of politics. This project opened my eyes up to how lucky I really am, and how important it is to reconginze that many people around the world don’t have the same security that I do. It made me realize that I have a responsibility to stay informed, appreciate my freedoms and use my voice to support those who don’t have the same privileges. 

Documentary link will be posted below soon!

Thank you for reading <3