Destructive Desires

Before he was re-elected, Donald Trump promised to do away with the guardrails of liberal democracy. And he was not elected despite this promise, but because of it. In their influential book Offended Freedom, Carolin Amlinger and Oliver Nachtwey showed how libertarianism and authoritarianism could meld together. Two years later, reality confirmed their sociological diagnosis in the most concerning way. Now, these two sociologists take a closer look at the voters and followers of Trump, Musk, and the AfD.

But where does this destructive desire come from? And why do so many people follow the libertarian authoritarians into this self-imposed fascism.

Drawing on extensive empirical research – including a multitude of detailed interviews with AfD supporters and members of libertarian groups – Amlinger and Nachtwey formulate an explanation: at their core, these revolts are directed against the blockade of liberal societies, which are no longer able to deliver on their promises of upward mobility and emancipation. In this sense, the authors echo Erich Fromm in concluding that for Trump, Musk, Weidel, and their adherents, the aim is to destroy the world in a final, desperate attempt to avoid being chewed up by it.

»... Amlinger and Nachtwey [produce] an image that is as worrying as it is analytically incisive. Clear and clarifying – in light of the assaults of the right and the structually conditioned perils facing liberal democracy.« Peter Laudenbach, Süddeutsche Zeitung

»... Destructive Desires skillfully reconstructs the regression toward right-wing authoritarianism – which has been signed off on by the majority – with facts and fervour….« Hanno Sauer, DIE ZEIT

»Destructive Desires is an intelligent book that fluently and confidently combines ideas, statistics, and interpretations with the authors' own empirical surveys and in-depth interviews.« Stefan Reinecke, taz. die tageszeitung

»The book of the hour.« Patrick Kaczmarczyk, Surplus Magazin

»Amlinger and Nachtwey have been awarded the Geschwister Scholl Prize in Munich. This prize honours a book each year that ›evinces intellectual independence and is suited to promoting civil freedom and moral, intellectual, and aesthetic daring and encourages a responsible awareness of the present. That is exactly what this book does.« Ralf Schnell, Der Tagesspiegel

»Amlinger and Nachtwey demonstrate, by way of dozens of examples, how fitting the analyses of historical fascism can be for today’s insecurity…« Jan Sternberg, Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger

»In their valuable book, Amlinger und Nachtwey stress that ... in a certain sense, we need to appeal to the emotions in the face of the populism all around us. The supposed superiority of liberalism alone will no longer suffice.« Michael Meyer, Deutschlandfunk Kultur

»With their new book, Carolin Amlinger and Oliver Nachtwey once again carry out academic enquiry that is extremely close to our endangered present. Anybody who wants to understand what is threatening our democracy absolutely has to read Destructive Desires.« Beate Meierfrankenfeld, BR 24

»Destructive Desires offers fascinating insights into the house of horrors of right-wing authoritarianism and totalitarianism. Read like a novel, the book can replace a whole host of sophisticated thrillers.« Ronald Pohl, Der Standard

»Destructive Desires is really worth reading. … The book not only delves deeply and productively into the theories of Fromm, Adorno, Leo Löwenthal, or Klaus Theleweit on historical fascism, enriching them with contemporary observations and findings. Destructive Desires also shows why many liberal theories and strands of politics are so powerless in the face of fascism.« Till Schmidt, Münchner Feuilleton

»The authors deserve credit for the way they … shed light on the role of the principle of meritocracy. … In this context, Destructive Desires thankfully dispenses with the notion that the ›culture wars‹ are a phenomenon that is detached from material conflicts. Symbolic recognition … intensifies competition on the labour market.« Raul Zelik, neues deutschland

»Amlinger and Nachtwey underpin their empirical findings with an expansive sociological foundation, which makes it a … rewarding read. Above all, though, they flesh out the economic foundations that have brought about the democratic fascist as a type ... « Leander F. Badura, der Freitag