#766 - Autor Georg Diez über die Fehler in den 1990er & die Probleme der Gegenwart

Ursula K. Le Guin's "The Dispossessed" is a science fiction novel that explores themes of anarchism, utopianism, and social justice. The story follows Shevek, a physicist who travels between two planets with contrasting social systems: Urras, a capitalist society, and Anarres, an anarchist society. Le Guin's novel is a thought-provoking exploration of different social and political systems and their impact on individual lives. The novel's exploration of freedom, equality, and the challenges of creating a just society continues to resonate with readers today. It's a classic of science fiction.

In this influential book, Milton Friedman discusses the role of economic capitalism in a liberal society. He argues that economic freedom is a precondition for political freedom and advocates for limited government intervention. The book covers various topics, including the relation between economic and political freedom, the role of government in a free society, monetary policy, international trade arrangements, and the role of government in education. Friedman's work has been highly influential in economic theory and policymaking, and the book has been translated into eighteen languages and sold over half a million copies since its publication in 1962.

In this book, Niall Ferguson argues that the British Empire played a crucial role in shaping the modern world. He details how the empire's expansion from the seventeenth to the mid-twentieth century led to the global spread of capitalism, telecommunications, the English language, and institutions of representative government. Ferguson also examines the complexities and controversies of the empire, including its ruthless defense and the imposition of Western norms on other cultures. The book is praised for its engaging narrative and rigorous historical analysis, offering a balanced view of the empire's achievements and pitfalls.

In 'How Democracy Ends', David Runciman explores the potential demise of democracy through scenarios like coups, catastrophes, and technological takeovers. He argues that traditional notions of democratic failure are outdated and that modern democracies face unique challenges, including the erosion of institutions and the impact of technology. Runciman suggests that democracy may evolve into a weakened form rather than collapse entirely.

In 'Merchants of Doubt', historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway expose how a loose-knit group of high-level scientists, with deep connections in politics and industry, ran effective campaigns to mislead the public and deny well-established scientific knowledge over four decades. The book highlights how the same individuals repeatedly denied the truth of studies linking smoking to lung cancer, coal smoke to acid rain, and CFCs to the ozone hole, all while promoting an ideology of free market fundamentalism aided by a compliant media.

In this pathbreaking study, Fritz Bartel argues that the economic shocks of the 1970s, particularly the oil crisis, made promises of better living untenable for both capitalist and communist governments. This led to a shift from making promises to breaking them, with Western leaders like Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher using neoliberalism to impose austerity and favor capital over labor. In contrast, Eastern European governments struggled to reform and ultimately saw their legitimacy damaged. The book provides a sweeping narrative that links the history of the Cold War and the rise of neoliberalism, highlighting the role of energy and financial markets in shaping global politics.

The Prize chronicles the struggle for wealth and power that has surrounded oil for over a century. The book spans from the drilling of the first well in Pennsylvania through two great world wars, the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, Operation Desert Storm, and the Iraq War, to current climate change. It is a definitive work on the subject of oil, addressing its role in shaping major world events, global power dynamics, and the ongoing energy crisis. Yergin's narrative includes the rise of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil, the discovery of oil in various regions, and the geopolitical clashes over oil resources, making it crucial for understanding world politics and the global economy.

Jürgen Habermas's "The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere" is a seminal work in critical theory, exploring the historical development and decline of the public sphere in Western societies. Habermas traces the evolution of public discourse from its origins in coffee houses and salons to its transformation under the influence of mass media and consumerism. He argues that the public sphere, a space for rational-critical debate, has been increasingly colonized by private interests, leading to a decline in democratic participation and public deliberation. The book's analysis of the relationship between power, communication, and public opinion remains highly influential in contemporary political and communication studies. Habermas's work has sparked extensive debate and critique, particularly regarding its assumptions about rationality and its limitations in addressing issues of social inequality and power imbalances. Despite these critiques, the book continues to be a cornerstone of critical theory and a crucial resource for understanding the complexities of public discourse in modern societies.

In this book, Gary Gerstle examines America's recent history, focusing on the past forty years during which the nation embraced marketization, global economic integration, a harsh penal state, and increasing inequality. Gerstle discusses how neoliberalism emerged in the 1970s and 1980s, dominated American politics in the 1990s and 2000s, and began to fracture during the 2010s with the rise of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. He highlights the role of the Soviet Union's collapse in securing neoliberalism's triumph and analyzes how neoliberal policies, despite promising universal prosperity, failed to address economic inequality, leading to its eventual decline.

In 'Wer wagt, beginnt' erzählt Robert Habeck, warum er sich trotz der Politikverdrossenheit seit 15 Jahren bei den Grünen engagiert. Er schildert, was ihn politisch antreibt, wie ihn das Leben in öffentlichen Ämtern verändert hat und warum er für Visionen und eine Kultur des Zweifels in der Politik kämpft. Die Neuauflage von 2018 enthält ein aktuelles Nachwort über das politische Jahr 2017 und seine Erfahrungen in den Jamaika-Sondierungen.

In diesem Buch analysiert Georg Diez die Neunziger als Schlüsseljahrzehnt für die gegenwärtigen Krisen. Er argumentiert, dass die Welt, die in den Neunzigern geschaffen wurde, heute kollabiert. Das Buch setzt auf kämpferischen Optimismus und zielt darauf ab, die Geschichte dieser Dekade zur Aufklärung zu nutzen, um Alternativen zu denken und die Handlungsfähigkeit zu stärken.

In 'Tausend Aufbrüche' bietet Christina Morina eine umfassende Perspektive auf die Demokratiegeschichten der DDR und BRD. Sie analysiert die gesellschaftlichen und historischen Entwicklungen Deutschlands seit den 1980er-Jahren und beleuchtet die Vielfalt der ostdeutschen Demokratieaneignungsversuche sowie die Grenzen der westdeutschen Liberalisierung.