Generation Lockstep – A book by Ralf Schuler, personally signed

How conformity became a national sport

Whether it's the war in Ukraine, migration, dealing with Islam, Europe as a vision, the rainbow flag, Corona policy, or diversity of opinion in public broadcasting - there are topics where the public debate seems to march in mental lockstep. Dissent is unwelcome.

But unlike the repressively enforced conformity in the staged parades of the defunct GDR socialism, the pressure to conform today seems to organize itself under the conditions of a free society.

According to what patterns does politically correct thinking weave itself? Why do the same people always speak on talk shows? Why do members of parliament bend over backwards, even though their mandate has never been more inviolable than it is today? Why is counter-speech often only sprinkled into public discourse as legitimizing garnish for the supposedly "right" path?

"Because two plus two is four," say those in lockstep. In other words: We are right. Consequently, the debate can only consist of Yes or Yes. A fatal misunderstanding that makes people doubt democracy and threatens the core of democracy: the competition of opinions.

Author

Ralf Schuler grew up in the East Berlin district of Köpenick. In 1993 he received the Theodor Wolff Prize. As a journalist he worked for the daily newspaper "Die Welt", for the "Märkische Allgemeine Zeitung" and was head of the parliamentary editorial department of BILD in Berlin from 2013 to 2022. Today he is responsible for the video podcast "Schuler! Questions, what is" at NIUS. Photo © Wolf Lux