LOGIC OF FEAR

Robert Misik in conversation with Peter Neumann

LOGIC OF FEAR

The FPÖ is ahead in the polls and says that the time of „moderation“ is over; its youth organisation is growing together with the far-right Identitarians. With the AfD, a „securely far-right“ party could soon become the strongest force in state parliaments in Germany. And the situation is not much different in other European countries.
The NSU series of murders (2000-2006), the terrorist attack by Anders Breivik (2011), the attack in Munich (2016), the Christchurch massacre (2019), the murder of Walter Lübcke (2019), the attacks in Halle (2019) and Hanau (2020), and most recently a foiled coup plan by German Reichsbürger (2022): We have been dealing with right-wing extremist violence for a long time - and it has been particularly severe in recent years. In the wake of social protests, extreme groups could come together to form a comprehensive movement.

Peter R. Neumann, one of the world's most distinguished experts, shows how real this danger is - and where its deeper, ideological roots lie. Instead of just describing individual groups, he reveals the essence, the logic of right-wing extremism - the very thing that unites all these groups, whether Old or New Right, neo-reactionaries or identitarians, Reichsbürger or conspiracy theorists, AfD or Rassemblement National. Using numerous examples, from the völkisch movement in the 19th century to the populism of the present day, Neumann shows that it does not start with hatred, but with a logic of fear. A psychogram of right-wing extremism - which is also an urgent warning.

Peter Neumann, political scientist, journalist and publicist

Robert Misik, Author and journalist

Peter R. Neumann, born in Würzburg in 1974, is Professor of Security Studies at King's College London, where he headed the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR) for many years. As an internationally sought-after expert, Neumann was an advisor to the USA at the United Nations in 2014 and a special representative of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2017. He also writes for «Der Spiegel» and the «New York Times», among others. Most recently, his highly acclaimed book «The New World Disorder» was published.

Peter R. Neumann:
The logic of fear. The far-right danger and its roots
Rowohlt Verlag, September 2023, 22,- €