Christoph Butterwegge: Why I Will Never Stop Being a Leftist
In a piece for der Freitag, political scholar Christoph Butterwegge critiques former leftists who have adopted conservative ideologies, pointing to comedian Dieter Nuhr and journalist Harald Martenstein as notable examples. He asserts that assertions of ideological evolution driven by realism and pragmatism are merely opportunistic. The discussion includes the anthology "Wenn das Denken die Richtung ändert" (When Thinking Changes Direction: Why We Are No Longer Left), curated by Uli Kulke and Reinhard Mohr, which contains essays from twelve political converts. Butterwegge emphasizes the pressing need to resist neoliberalism, arguing that altering beliefs for trendiness constitutes a betrayal of core values. His essay, titled "Warum ich nie aufhören werde, ein Linker zu sein" (Why I Will Never Stop Being a Leftist), advocates for unwavering political dedication.
Key facts
- Christoph Butterwegge published an essay in der Freitag titled "Warum ich nie aufhören werde, ein Linker zu sein".
- Butterwegge criticizes former leftists like Dieter Nuhr and Harald Martenstein for becoming conservative.
- He calls the trend of ex-leftists converting to conservatism opportunistic.
- The essay references the anthology "Wenn das Denken die Richtung ändert. Warum wir nicht mehr links sind" edited by Uli Kulke and Reinhard Mohr.
- The anthology includes contributions from Henryk M. Broder, Monika Maron, Mathias Brodkorb, Antonia Grunenberg, Hubert Kleinert, Dieter Nuhr, and Peter Schneider.
- Butterwegge argues that opposing neoliberal profit ideas makes more sense today than ever.
- The essay is a direct response to the anthology's claim that former leftists have seen the light.
- Butterwegge insists that changing one's views to fit the times is not pragmatism but opportunism.
Entities
Artists
- Christoph Butterwegge
- Dieter Nuhr
- Harald Martenstein
- Uli Kulke
- Reinhard Mohr
- Henryk M. Broder
- Monika Maron
- Mathias Brodkorb
- Antonia Grunenberg
- Hubert Kleinert
- Peter Schneider
Institutions
- der Freitag