In spring 2025, on the platform of the Diye-Slovo studio, Viacheslav Likhachov delivered an original lecture course titled “Three Conversations on War, Regression, and the End of History.” A total of more than 115 participants registered for the three lectures that made up the course. Recordings are available at the links below.

The course was held on the Diye-Slovo Studio platform with the support of the Zionist Federation of Ukraine (ZFU).

About the Lecturer

Viacheslav Likhachov is a historian and political scientist, a member of the Expert Council of the Center for Civil Liberties, and head of the monitoring group on manifestations of anti-Semitism and xenophobia in Ukraine.

Lectures

March 27, 2025

Viacheslav Likhachov — “A Jewish Perspective on Trumpism”

In Ukraine, hardly anyone seriously expected miracles from Trump. Even the most optimistic observers hoped at best that things would not be worse than under Biden (and, of course, they were mistaken). However, in the Jewish communities close to us – both among the Ukrainian diaspora in the United States and especially in Israel – the mood was quite different. Pro-Ukrainian Trump supporters had to demonstrate remarkable ingenuity to publicly justify their choice, yet there turned out to be surprisingly many of them.

Trump’s image as a strong ally of Israel and a fighter against anti-Semitism certainly played a role. However, there appear to be deeper reasons behind support for Trump within the Jewish world, particularly among Jews from the former Soviet Union. During this lecture, we explore how the exploitation of frustration becomes an important electoral factor and consider whether this trend is beneficial for Jewish communities.

Lecture recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZy0YQBoL_8

April 29, 2025

Viacheslav Likhachev — “The Global Crisis of Democracy: Temporary Difficulties or a Systemic Failure?”

Modern Western democratic society is, of course, far from perfect. Yet for a long time, it seemed that humanity had not developed a better system. The combination of dynamic economic growth, the rule of law, competitive democracy, and individual freedoms created such an attractive model that authoritarian and totalitarian regimes could not compete. Liberal democracy of the Western type appeared to be a natural benchmark for the rest of the world.

Throughout the second half of the 20th century, there were strong reasons to believe that global liberalization was irreversible. However, something has clearly gone wrong.

Over the past 10–15 years, opposite trends have emerged worldwide. These developments can no longer be explained by temporary factors. It is now evident that we are witnessing a global process that can be described as an anti-liberal backlash.

How quickly we understand the nature of this crisis will largely determine how deep and long-lasting it becomes. What drives the popularity of anti-liberal movements? What global processes underlie them? In this lecture, we reflect on the shared features – and possibly common causes – of authoritarian tendencies in different countries.

Lecture recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dJvAE4B9Is

May 22, 2025

Viacheslav Likhachov — “Freedom vs. Democracy: Neoreaction, the Dark Enlightenment, and Beyond”

The return of the now-familiar American political figure and the distinctive style of his behavior have been shaped by many factors – from personal grievances to global economic processes. Among the most concerning elements is a clear anti-liberal shift. The occupant of the well-known office is not always able to articulate his views clearly and certainly does not claim to present a coherent political doctrine.

Nevertheless, his rhetoric and actions reflect a broader worldview, which in turn has been influenced by specific ideas and intellectual trends. In this lecture, we examine the intellectual currents that have shaped contemporary American anti-liberal political thought.

Lecture recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfB4kMDvZL8