Freud's Theory Explains Right-Wing Populism's Appeal

A recent opinion piece in the Süddeutsche Zeitung argues that right-wing populism, as seen with the AfD in Germany, represents a collective regression driven by unconscious desires, as described by Sigmund Freud. The author contends that the freest and richest societies are actively working toward their own abolition through this populist surge, which is 'toll' (great) only in the Freudian sense of the 'pleasure principle' overriding reality. The piece draws on Freud's 'Civilization and Its Discontents' to suggest that modern comforts have not alleviated deep-seated unease, making populations susceptible to authoritarian promises. The article does not name specific politicians or events but frames the trend as a psychological phenomenon rather than a purely political one.