German historian Egon Flaig says in an interview with the Swiss newspaper "Neue Zürcher Zeitung" that the lack of heroism and willingness to defend democracy is endangering the West.
Egon Flaig is a renowned German historian who does not shy away from touching on topics that are usually considered controversial or hot-button. In an interview with the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung, he sharply criticized the lack of willingness to sacrifice in the West and expressed concern that modern democracies are becoming increasingly vulnerable due to a post-heroic mentality and a refusal to think in terms of conflict and political hostility. He says that in Western societies, especially in Germany, a culture has developed that sees any loss of life in defense of the state as unjustifiable and irrational, even when it comes to adult, conscientious citizens. Parents, he says, no longer see their children as citizens of the republic, but as private individuals who must be protected at all costs from military service - an indication of a profound depoliticization.
Flaig also criticizes the ideological influences of the new left and globalism, which he argues have undermined the concept of the nation-state and borders, making it impossible for many citizens to think politically. He singles out the thought of philosopher and sociologist Jürgen Habermas and a transnational legal culture that denies the very idea of war and political enemies. This, according to Flaig, also explains inexplicable behavior such as German President Frank Walter Steinmeier's congratulations on the 40th anniversary of the Islamic regime in Tehran - a regime that calls for the destruction of Israel. Flaig calls this either open anti-Semitism or an example of political blindness stemming from an inability to think about the concept of hostility.
He also criticizes the current political rhetoric in Germany, where figures like Chancellor Friedrich Merz talk about “war” with Russia, while there are no German soldiers at war. Flaig calls this an abuse of political terminology and a lack of seriousness.
Flaig links the sustainability of a republic to the willingness of its citizens to sacrifice for it – to defend the law, values and belonging. He argues that life is not the greatest good, and that a society that values life above all else is destined for slavery. He also cites Hegel’s dialectic of master and slave to explain how the fear of death leads to subjugation. Therefore, a democratic state that does not foster a sense of belonging and a willingness to sacrifice is doomed to fail in the face of crises.
At the end of the interview, Flaig discusses the situation in Ukraine. He sees the war as a founding moment for the Ukrainian nation, but he believes the country is making three mistakes that will weigh heavily on its future. The first is the exodus of about a fifth of the population at the beginning of the war. The second is the exclusion of young people under 25 from mobilization – an action that, he says, creates divisions between generations and undermines the sense of national unity. And third, he cites a lack of willingness to sacrifice as a factor that could undermine the strengthening of the nation in the future.
Flaig acknowledges that he is part of a generation that has contributed to this ideological and moral state, and that the younger generation will have to face the consequences. But, he adds, he cannot remain indifferent when he sees the ideals of the republic being destroyed. If the slave mentality prevails, he says, then democracy no longer has a chance to defend itself.
ER (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
