Arne Semsrott's 'Gegenmacht' Advocates Civil Society as Democratic Force

Journalist and activist Arne Semsrott has published 'Gegenmacht: Die Zivilgesellschaft schlägt zurück' (Counterpower: Civil Society Strikes Back), a non-fiction book that argues for the political efficacy of civil society. The subtitle, 'A Guide for the Democratic Offensive', frames the work as both a motivational and practical handbook against powerlessness during the authoritarian turn. Semsrott, founder of the transparency initiative FragDenStaat, which notably made the NSU files public, warns that current plans to restrict Germany's Freedom of Information Act would severely limit such civic action. The book targets those disillusioned with parliamentary democracy, asserting that civil society remains a potent force. The review also mentions Lizzie Doron's 'Wir spielen Alltag – Leben in Israel seit dem 7. Oktober', which explores the alienation of liberal and leftist Israelis from their state and their perceived international political abandonment.