On other friendly faces – Thomas O. Falk in Haaretz:

‘Political scientists have long debated the "horseshoe theory," which posits that far-left and far-right ideologies, though diametrically opposed, bend toward a shared contempt for liberal democracy. The theory illuminates Germany's youth revolt: both Die Linke and the AfD thrive on disillusionment, weaponizing grievances that centrist parties have failed to address.
Young Germans face a perfect storm of financial insecurity. The country hasn't had any significant economic growth over the past five years, while rent in cities like Berlin has soared since 2012 with no end in sight. One in four young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 is affected by or at risk of poverty.
Enter Die Linke, which promises radical redistribution of wealth: billionaires "shouldn't exist," a fifteen Euro minimum wage, a nationwide rent cap, the abolition of VAT on essential food items, and free public transport. These are just a few points in their manifesto. This anti-capitalist purism offers a kind of cathartic clarity to those overwhelmed by financial struggles and mounting debt, providing simple solutions to complex, deeply rooted issues.’

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‘The shift in youth support toward these parties does not only signal disillusionment with economic and immigration policies but also threatens to erode Vergangenheitsbewältigung, Germany's post-war confrontation with its Nazi past. Both Die Linke and the AfD reject this foundational ethic, albeit through different lenses, casting doubt on Germany's longstanding commitment to Israel and Holocaust remembrance.’

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‘The AfD, meanwhile, no longer leaves room for speculation regarding its stance on Germany's remembrance culture. Alice Weidel, the party's co-chairwoman, recently interviewed Elon Musk, during which she absurdly labeled Hitler a communist. This was merely the latest example of preposterous historical revisionism from her party. Björn Höcke, an influential leader in the AfD, openly referred to Holocaust memorials as monuments of shame and called for a "180-degree turn" in Germany's culture of remembrance.
Maximilian Krah, the party's lead candidate for the European elections last year, managed to alienate even Europe's far-right when he stated that not all Waffen-SS members "should be considered criminals." And just this past Sunday, an AfD candidate who described himself as the "friendly face of National Socialism" entered the Bundestag.’

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‘Germany's greatest challenge moving forward lies in reciprocal radicalization: a self-perpetuating cycle where extremes feed off one another, hollowing out the political center. History offers a grim warning: the Weimar Republic's fragmentation into competing ideological camps did not end with debate halls, but instead with democracy's collapse.’ Read the article here.

Reciprocal radicalization. In the US we see a different dynamic. But sure, there is a thing called reciprocal radicalization.
National Socialism with a friendly face, maybe that’s how some future historians will define our epoch, or at least, large parts of it.

And yes, the ennui is a terrible thing, sometimes the drum beats of war are the only beats that can make ennui disappear.