Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk on His New Book 'Faschismus ist keine Meinung' and Contempt for AfD Voters

Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk, a historian known for his fierce criticism of East German identity politics, has published a new book titled 'Faschismus ist keine Meinung' (Fascism Is Not an Opinion). In an interview with Der Freitag, he states, 'Yes, I despise AfD voters.' The book, part memoir and part political manifesto, offers guidance on 'staying stable in authoritarian times.' Kowalczuk, who wears a Ukraine solidarity pin and T-shirt, is a music fan and sports a jacket from the legendary Blue Note jazz club. He is widely hated in parts of East Germany for his relentless attacks on 'Ostdeutschtümelei' (East German sentimentalism). The interview took place in a café in Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, where he ordered two colas in two glasses and spoke quickly in a distinct East Berlin dialect. The full interview appears in the current issue of Der Freitag.