NZZ Review Faults Kowalczuk and Hensel's Books on East German Nostalgia
The Neue Zürcher Zeitung reviews two recent German-language books about East German political sentiment. Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk's 'A World Full of Fascists' takes on DDR nostalgia and the AfD, but the reviewer argues he overshoots his target. Meanwhile, Jana Hensel's 'Once Upon a Time There Was a Country' claims that broken promises from West Germany have turned East Germans away from democracy. However, the reviewer writes that Hensel's work offers a lament rather than a genuine analysis, failing to go beyond generalizations about the East German experience.
Key facts
- NZZ publishes a critical review of two books on East German nostalgia and the AfD.
- Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk's book is titled 'A World Full of Fascists'.
- Kowalczuk's book criticizes DDR nostalgia and the AfD.
- The review claims Kowalczuk overshoots the mark.
- Jana Hensel's book is titled 'Once Upon a Time There Was a Country'.
- Hensel argues that West German promises have become fragile.
- Hensel believes East Germans turned away from democracy for this reason.
- The reviewer finds Hensel's book lacks analysis and is merely a lament.
Entities
Artists
- Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk
- Jana Hensel
Institutions
- Neue Zürcher Zeitung
- Alternative für Deutschland (AfD)
Locations
- Germany
- East Germany
- West Germany
- Switzerland