Global Stage Redefined: Perspectives and Evaluations Revisited
Things Aren't Looking too Swell for Pacifism Nowadays
It'd be heaven-sent if there was a arena to resurrect pacifism to its rightful position. And the comeback of "Die Weltbühne" seems like the perfect candidate for this mission, considering it was once the paper that served as the central organ for German pacifism. With Kurt Tucholsky's iconic words gracing the first page of the new publication, it's clear that pacifism will be the main focus.
However, the program for this new "Die Weltbühne" appears a bit muddy, as endorsing slogans like "Soldiers are murderers" while simultaneously embracing the ideology of Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, a proto-fascist figure who glorified war, is a bit perplexing. Co-editor Thomas Fasbender, in an article for the first issue, admits that the slogans are just empty noise.
The overall content of the newspaper can best be described as dropped balls and inconsistency. Deborah Feldman questions if the editor-in-chief of the "Jüdische Allgemeine", Philipp Peyman Engel, might not be Jewish. This tactic of Feldman's, dredging up people's ancestry, is well-known, and it's not true in this instance. But it certainly provides some excitement.
The entire issue is reminiscent of East German propaganda, with lots of ambiguity and hints that require readers to decipher the underlying meanings. The style is far from the sharpness and clarity that Kurt Tucholsky and others stood for. The true stars of this first issue are the contradictions and confusion.
Holger Friedrich, who took over the "Berliner Zeitung" five years back, is the man behind the revival of "Die Weltbühne." He's bought the trademark rights for "Weltbühne" in Switzerland, but there are three of them, with two owned by Nicholas Jacobsohn in the USA. However, Jacobsohn has not used the trademarks due to a lack of strong financial partners. Friedrich might have been that partner, but he's now requested the cancellation of Jacobsohn's trademark rights as no cooperation was achieved. Jacobson expressed his displeasure, stating it's quite a complicated situation.
Michael Fasbender, previously associated with Russia-centered journalism, and Michael Andrick, who views fact-checking as a threat to free society, contribute to the "Weltbühne." This aligns with the publication's past – it was a loyalist newspaper in East Germany after 1945, and was finally shut down in 1993. However, the current editors prefer to reference Tucholsky over Peter Hacks, who celebrated Wolf Biermann's expulsion in "Weltbühne," as if they could wind back the clock to suit their preferences.
Overall, this "Die Weltbühne" isn't exactly the peace-loving legacy of Tucholsky or Carl von Ossietzky. Instead, it's a magazine that plays dumb, claiming to be pacifist, yet avoiding discussions on current wars and neglecting to specify what it means by debates. The result is a magazine that desperately needs a central organ for German pacifism, which would require a certain intellectual honesty – something that appears to be lacking here. The promised defense of pacifism barely makes an appearance. The entire magazine is a maze of lies that justifies its own deceit by claiming others are doing the same. Ironically, it becomes exactly what it doesn't want to be – a conformist member of society. It's another classic German product.
Sources:1. Spiegel Online2. Welt Online3. Berliner Zeitung
Enrichment Data:- Holger Friedrich, a Berlin-based publisher, has revived the legendary "Die Weltbühne" newspaper, which holds historical significance from the Weimar Republic. His ambition is to create a resource that continues the anti-militarist and republican spirit of the original publication. However, his political stance and the content of the new "Die Weltbühne" have generated controversy, and questions have been raised about whether the revival lives up to the intellectual and political rigor of the original publication.- Financial Stability and Ambitions: Friedrich's Berliner Verlag reported a significant operational profit in 2024, ensuring financial stability for his ambitions, which include becoming a shareholder of the Deutsche Presseagentur (dpa) to support East German perspectives in the media.- Controversial Content and Style: The revival of "Die Weltbühne" has been met with criticism for its controversial approach. Friedrich's political views, including a call to stop arms deliveries to Ukraine, have contributed to the controversy. The magazine's lower-than-expected initial circulation, bright red cover color, and choice of font have also been criticized as not fully honoring the original publication's essence.
- Amidst the debate surrounding the revived "Die Weltbühne," some have questioned its commitment to pacifism, as it seems to advocate for books and entertainment, rather than prioritizing a lifestyle centered around peace and general-news about politics.
- The new "Die Weltbühne" has found itself embroiled in controversy, with debate centers not just on its political stance, but also its entertainment section and focus on books, which some argue divert attention from the core mission of promoting pacifism.
- In the world of entertainment and books, the revived "Die Weltbühne" faces criticism for its lack of focus on pacifism, with some arguing that its lifestyle section and political commentary on other topics, such as politics and general-news, detract from its original mission of promoting a peace-loving mindset.
