Wolfgang Ullrich's 'Memokratie' Analyzes Political Memes as Authoritarian Infrastructure

In his new book 'Memokratie,' cultural scholar Wolfgang Ullrich examines how internet memes have evolved from digital folklore into organized political weapons. The analysis traces how figures like Steve Bannon and Milo Yiannopoulos began recruiting from gaming communities in 2012 to create meme armies, redirecting existing grievances among white men. Ullrich identifies 2014 as a turning point with explicitly misogynist campaigns following criticism of sexist stereotypes in video games, leading to widespread awareness through events like GamerGate. He argues memes function through affective resonance rather than argument, creating an 'attention regime' where platforms amplify emotionally charged content. The book warns this 'memocracy' threatens democratic processes by replacing reasoned debate with viral circulation and normalized aggression.