Matthias Wagler (@mattwagl.mastodon.green.ap.brid.gy)

I came across a revealing interview in the German newspaper taz with Andreas Püttmann, political scientist and longtime observer of the German conservative parties CDU/CSU. In this interview, he reflects on the root causes of right-wing populism. Men at Crisis The following quote in particular caught my attention: In it, he describes the connection between the crisis of masculinity and the rise of populism. This struck me as extremely accurate and aligned with my own experiences and thought processes: German – OriginalDer Rechtspopulismus hat viel mit zügelloser, toxischer und zugleich fragiler Männlichkeit zu tun. Deshalb werbe ich schon lange für mehr Frauen in der Politik, nicht primär aus „Gendergerechtigkeit“, sondern wegen unser aller Überlebensinteresse.English – TranslationRight-wing populism has a lot to do with unbridled, toxic and simultaneously fragile masculinity. That’s why I’ve long advocated for more women in politics—not primarily for ‘gender justice’, but for the survival interest of all of us. He’s spot on: it’s this stupid, self-imposed patriarchy that has produced generations of men who are simply incapable of admitting weakness, showing empathy for others, or even talking openly with others about their own feelings. Because contrary to the widespread belief that men are particularly tough and resilient, all these missing skills have actually made us weaker, not stronger! And above all, they have made men susceptible to hierarchies, the cult of the leader, pied pipers, and simplistic answers to complex problems. Like Andreas Püttmann, I truly believe that we must overcome precisely this situation in order to tackle many of our current challenges at their root. This male vulnerability is the bitter legacy of patriarchy. Conservatives at Crisis As Well This same pattern — refusing to admit weakness, clinging to outdated identities — appears not just in individual men but also in institutions and groups shaped by men. This is especially evident for conservatism, which I find in a truly desolate state. In my experience, conservative groups in particular tend toward the cult of the strong leader and hierarchy precisely because of this. Püttmann is equally direct about the crisis within German conservatism: German – OriginalLinks und rechts sind zwar durchaus noch relevante politische Kategorien, aber die heute entscheidende Kluft verläuft zwischen den Verteidigern der liberalen Demokratie und den autoritär Gestimmten unterschiedlicher Provenienz. Wer in der Union nicht kapiert hat, dass der „Hauptgegner“ die rechten Extremisten sind, und stattdessen fast ausschließlich auf demokratischen „Linksgrünen“ herumhackt, der ist aus der Zeit gefallen und läuft geradewegs in die Papen-Falle.English – TranslationWhile “left” and “right” are certainly still relevant political categories, the decisive divide today runs between the defenders of liberal democracy and those with authoritarian leanings from various backgrounds. Anyone in the Union who hasn’t grasped that the “main adversary” is the far-right extremists, and instead picks on democratic “left-wing greens” almost exclusively, is out of touch with the times and walking straight into the Papen trap. The solution — for both men and conservatives — is the same: we must stop clinging to identities that are no longer relevant today. For men, this means the ability to form authentic connections—to our own feelings and to those of others. For conservatives, it means remembering what they should actually be standing up for — and in my view, that has to include both liberal democracy and the socially vulnerable. What we mistakenly consider strength today will be our downfall. But we can still change course — and the decision to do so is in itself an act of strength. https://gedankentank.com/blog/2026/05/01/andreas-puettmann-on-the-crisis-of-conservatism-and-masculinity/