The Death of Democracy

Product Description

'Brilliant. A timely reminder of the fragility of democracy and the dangers of extreme nationalism.' Nikolaus Wachsmann, author of KL- A History of the Nazi Concentration Camps

'In this post-truth, alternative-facts American moment, The Death of Democracy is essential reading.' Kurt Andersen, author of Fantasyland

'An outstanding accomplishment.' Rick Perlstein, author of Nixonland

A revelatory account of the fall of the Weimar Republic and the rise of Hitler, based on new and award-winning research, and recently discovered archival material.

Drawing on individual stories to illustrate its broader arguments, The Death of Democracy examines the reasons for the fall of one of the most progressive governments in twentieth-century Europe, and the rise of the most terrifying. It focuses on the global dimension of the Nazi phenomenon, as a part of a widespread reaction against a world order of triumphant, cosmopolitan liberal democracy and capitalism after the First World War. This world situation pushed its opponents to embrace authoritarianism, nationalism and economic self-sufficiency, kick starting a revolution reliant upon the innovative exploitation of new media technologies, and the formidable political and self-promotional skills of its leader.

The Death of Democracy is an authoritative and panoramic new survey of one of the most pivotal periods in modern history, and a book with a clear and important message for the world today.'Brilliant. A timely reminder of the fragility of democracy and the dangers of extreme nationalism.' Nikolaus Wachsmann, author of KL- A History of the Nazi Concentration Camps

'In this post-truth, alternative-facts American moment, The Death of Democracy is essential reading.' Kurt Andersen, author of Fantasyland

'An outstanding accomplishment.' Rick Perlstein, author of Nixonland

A revelatory account of the fall of the Weimar Republic and the rise of Hitler, based on new and award-winning research, and recently discovered archival material.

Drawing on individual stories to illustrate its broader arguments, The Death of Democracy examines the reasons for the fall of one of the most progressive governments in twentieth-century Europe, and the rise of the most terrifying. It focuses on the global dimension of the Nazi phenomenon, as a part of a widespread reaction against a world order of triumphant, cosmopolitan liberal democracy and capitalism after the First World War. This world situation pushed its opponents to embrace authoritarianism, nationalism and economic self-sufficiency, kick starting a revolution reliant upon the innovative exploitation of new media technologies, and the formidable political and self-promotional skills of its leader.

The Death of Democracy is an authoritative and panoramic new survey of one of the most pivotal periods in modern history, and a book with a clear and important message for the world today.
Benjamin Carter Hett is a former trial lawyer and a professor of history at Hunter College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York. He is the author of Death in the Tiergarten, Crossing Hitler, winner of the Fraenkel Prize, and Burning the Reichstag.