DESTRUCTIVENESS

IN CO-OPERATION WITH BOOK VIENNA 2025

Robert Misik in conversation with Oliver Nachtwey

DESTRUCTIVENESS
Elements of democratic fascism

Why the desire for destruction? And why do so many citizens follow the libertarian authoritarians into self-imposed fascism? Based on extensive empirical research, including a large number of in-depth interviews, Amlinger and Nachtwey develop an explanation: at its core, this revolt is directed against the blockade of liberal societies that no longer fulfil their promises of advancement and emancipation. In this sense, Trump, Musk, Weidel and their supporters, the two conclude with Erich Fromm, are concerned with the destruction of the world as a last, desperate attempt to save themselves from being crushed by it.

Oliver Nachtwey, born in 1975, is Professor of Social Structure Analysis at the Department of Sociology at the University of Basel. For his book The relegation society he was honoured with the Hans Matthöfer Prize for Business Journalism in 2017. Geschwister Scholl Prize 2025, Science Book of the Year 2026 (nomination).

Moderation Robert Misik, Author and journalist

Carolin Amlinger, Oliver Nachtwey:
Destructiveness. Elements of democratic fascism
Suhrkamp Island, October 2025, 30,- €