Sociologist Matthias Quent Analyzes Societal Powerlessness in New Book 'Keine Macht der Ohnmacht!'

Matthias Quent, a sociologist and right-wing extremism expert from Thuringia, has published the book 'Keine Macht der Ohnmacht!' examining contemporary feelings of powerlessness. In an interview with Freitag, Quent explores why many people feel helpless and how right-wing movements capitalize on this sentiment. He analyzes diverse reactions to current crises including rising living costs, war consequences, escalating climate change, and increasing radicalization. Quent takes seriously the paralyzing mood affecting societies, noting that anger, withdrawal, and paralysis are common responses. The book investigates underlying dynamics that create collective experiences where individual actions seem ineffective. Quent's research focuses on how societies can regain collective agency amid multiple overlapping crises affecting Germany and other regions.