Rather than focusing on the political conflicts in Germany during the interwar period, this book reveals a hidden intellectual consensus that united many political groups. Simon Unger retraces cultural themes which permeated across the ideological spectrum among writers, journalists, scholars, and other public figures, exploring the embedded nature of Nazi ideology in German culture before 1933. These ideas included fears of 'mass society' and 'cultural decline,' hopes for new forms of 'community,' contempt for rationalism and 'progress,' and ever-recurring notions of metaphysics, 'depth,' and spirituality. Together, these themes amounted to critiques of Western modernity that connected Nazism to other political currents, including parts of the left and the democratic center. Consensus in Conflict argues that the Nazi regime – despite its brutal reshaping of German and European societies – stood in greater intellectual proximity to Weimar culture than is normally recognized. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

‘A groundbreaking work of historical scholarship, Simon Unger's book compels us to rethink the relationship between Weimar democracy and the Third Reich. Combining meticulous archival research with conceptual sophistication and methodological innovation, Unger offers a powerful and nuanced contribution to twentieth-century German intellectual history and to our understanding of the deeper connections between democracy and dictatorship.'

Manuela Consonni - The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

‘In highlighting key zones of consensus across the Weimar and Nazi periods, this fine book contributes substantially to the intellectual history of modern Germany. Simon Unger-Alvi's argument about shared foundations is based on extensive reading and an excellent grasp of different currents and contexts.'

Moritz Föllmer - University of Amsterdam