The Power of Democracy

Liberal democracy makes you dependent, environmentalists start forest fires, feminists are totalitarian, and the rich are discriminated against – this is the lookingglass world of right-wing propaganda. And while we are heatedly discussing these kinds of distortions, the market economy is mutating into a power economy: Big Data and Big Money have turned the democratic order on its head. The economy regulates the nation.

All round us, authoritarians are beleaguering democracy. But why do liberals and the left remain so defensive? Are the conservatives tilting towards the right? Roger de Weck warns that the weakness of democrats is much more dangerous than the loudness of the reactionaries. His book shows the methods and the weak spots of rightwingers. Those who wish to can indeed stop them in their cultural fight against liberality.

In order for reactionaries not to hijack the future, democrats must work on the democracy of tomorrow, and make it able to act. That is the only way we can respond to the authoritarians, together with the emergent Generation Greta. Because nature, according to de Weck, must become a participant in democracy. His book provides an overview – and assurance.

»Roger de Weck opens a barrage of arguments on the scorners of democracy.« Herfried Münkler, Neue Zürcher Zeitung am Sonntag

»De Weck picks to pieces everything the old and new reactionaries […] and the Identitarian movement have compiled over time to discredit the open society and democracy with it.« Cord Aschenbrenner, Süddeutsche Zeitung

»[...] in terms of content a trenchant and stylistically brilliantly phrased analysis of the new authoritarianism.« Günter Kaindlstorfer, Deutschlandfunk

»It is an attempt by a citizen, a European, a liberal democrat to take the wind out of the sails of authority-loving populists. […] His book is of an elegance and rigour that one so often misses in the political non-fiction in this country.« Vladimir Balzer, MDR Kultur

»[Roger de Weck] has published a substantial book in which he warns of the danger of authoritarian reactionaries while at the same time evoking the power of democracy. […] The Power of Democracy is a smart book with intelligent analyses and lucid instructions.« Daniel Arnet, Sonntagsblick

»[a convincing] guide for the rescue and further development of democratic governmental systems.« Aschot Manutscharjan, Das Parlament

»The most recent book on democrary […] written with verve by probably the most important intellectual in contemporary Switzerland.« Claude Longchamp, swissinfo.ch