Non-fiction book “Oben rechts” on right-wing populism: Finally, firm governance

Thirty years ago, when Donald Trump was still trying to save his real estate holdings and Alexander Gauland was publishing newspapers, two political scientists described how right-wing populism can become successful. Today, their prognosis sounds like a playbook: dismantle old certainties, gain influence – precisely what authoritarian, far-right nationalist parties have perfected in recent years. However, the real surprise from the new anthology “Oben rechts” (Top Right) is not that right-wing populism is being fueled by the “woke left.” Rather, an even more disturbing force is behind it: the wealthy hardcore libertarians who would prefer to abolish the state altogether. Scholars demonstrate that it is this group, not the left, that is fueling the authoritarian shift. For example, while many believe that populists are simply the voice of the discontented, the authors show that financially powerful libertarians deliberately support networks, media outlets, and political parties in order to weaken democracy. For example, billionaire Peter Thiel once said: “I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible.” Here, personal motives become politically effective: It's not about protest, but about hard-nosed interests. The anthology makes it clear: If you focus only on outrage against gender issues or migration, you are overlooking the real power brokers. While the debate focuses on the “woke left,” libertarians are effectively pulling the political strings behind the scenes, wielding enormous amounts of money and influence. Now for the unexpected perspective: What if right-wing populism does not stem from “too much left-wing identity politics” but from those who benefit most from less democracy? The most powerful forces driving authoritarianism are not the loudmouths on the street, but those behind the scenes who are tweaking the rules. Anyone who believes that the new authoritarianism is a reaction to societal changes is completely underestimating the strategic and calculated manner in which this development is being driven forward. The real threat to liberal democracy does not come from the left, but from above—from those who want freedom only for themselves. When power and money collide with democracy, it is often those who have the least of both who lose out. That is the uncomfortable truth behind the new right-wing populism. If you've been won over by the idea that the biggest threats to democracy aren't the loud populists but the quiet money-makers, you can mark that on Lara Notes with I'm In – that's more than a like; it's your personal insight. And if you share this with someone over coffee tomorrow, you can use Shared Offline on Lara Notes to show that this conversation matters to you. These insights come from Süddeutsche.de – this note has saved you almost half a minute of research.