Managed democracy

On February 13, 2026, author Harald Martenstein gave a speech at Hamburg's Thalia Theater. The occasion was a mock trial held at the theater concerning a ban on the AfD party. Martenstein saw his task as providing arguments against this ban. This turned into a brilliant plea for a democracy that belongs to no one but the electorate, where arguments are open-ended, and where both "left" and "right" are legitimate political stances. In this book, Martenstein further elaborates on his position: democracy only exists where a change of direction is possible. A democracy without alternatives, where not everything can be fiercely debated, is in reality no longer a democracy. One can never defend freedom by abolishing it. This book, too, will spark discussions.


Manufacturer / Responsible Person:
Langen Müller Verlag GmbH, Thomas-Wimmer-Ring 11, 80539, Munich, Germany, info@langenmueller.de