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In a historical moment when democracies around the world are under unprecedented stress, it might be instructive to reconsider the classic case of democratic collapse – the Weimar Republic.
The origins of this catastrophe were buried deeply in a national culture which German elites lauded as their Sonderweg their exceptionalist past distinctly different from that of the western democracies. This alternative culture was classically enshrined in the music of Richard Wagner and the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche.
From late nineteenth century on these illiberal forces in Germany challenged and ultimately destroyed a nascent democratic movement, and emerged in the most malignant form of dictatorship, Nazi fascism. Given the historical experience we might reflect on how democracies survive or succumb when faced with aggressive challenges from retrogressive anti-democratic movements.
Below is the link to register for this series. You only have to register once to receive the information to join via Zoom in meeting format, which allows participants to see and hear each other and interact with Dr. West:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAoc-CtqzkuHtYtFpbpyPw1Nku1bSpo2gY
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