The Courage to be Disagreeable. A Guide to Political Defiance.

An event as part of our focus on
In focus: FALSE PATRIOTS - THE OPEN SOCIETY AND ITS ENEMIES

There is a good power of resilience! And we need it right now, when negative news and resignation seem to dominate everything. This book takes a refreshing approach: it advocates taking action, putting aside indifference, saying »No!« and standing up - at work, on the street and in politics. The authors find many prominent examples of people who are uncomfortable, rebel and deliberately put their fingers in wounds, such as Petra Kelly, Kevin Kühnert, Werner Schulz, Marco Wanderwitz, Kristina Hänel, Anne Wizorek, Marie von Kuck, Heidi Reichinnek and many more.

»Lateralists« don't have a good reputation here. Conformity is demanded everywhere. The authors turn the tables. They use specific cases to show why it is dangerous when no one has the courage to say »No!« and how constructive disobedience works. They call for resistance not to be left to the right. Resistance yes, but cheerful, not bitter, fair, not nasty! A mixture of guidebook, political non-fiction and pamphlet - with inspiration for all those who are dissatisfied with the current situation and who believe that we can do better.

Matthias Meisner, born in 1961, is a freelance journalist and author. He writes for the taz, Blätter für deutsche und internationale Politik, the Volksverpetzer and Katapult magazine, among others.
His topics: Human rights, democracy, right-wing extremism, feminism. He lives in Berlin and Tirana.

Monika Mokre is a political scientist and has worked at the Academy of Sciences in Vienna since 1991. Her areas of expertise include democratic theory, work on representation, migration and resistance movements. 

Moderation
Robert Misik, Author and journalist

Matthias Meisner, Paul Starzmann:
The courage to be displeased. A guide to political rebelliousness
Dietz Verlag 2025, 22,00 Euro