Using the 1933 Reichstag fire as a historical touchstone, this passage examines how authoritarian leaders - from Hitler to Putin - manufacture and manipulate terror events (real, questionable, and fake) to consolidate power, demonstrating how calculated exploitation of public fear can transform democratic institutions into tools of oppression.

Reflection Questions:

The passage describes how terror management relies on exploiting the immediate aftermath of shocking events. How do you distinguish between appropriate security responses to real threats and potential exploitation of fear for political purposes?

Snyder suggests that "courage" in the face of terror attacks isn't about not feeling fear, but about recognizing and resisting terror management despite that fear. In your own experience with crisis events, have you seen people balance natural emotional responses with the need to protect democratic institutions? What strategies helped maintain this balance?

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