Buchpräsentation: Amerikas Oligarchen. Geld, Macht und der Zerfall der Demokratie

Lecture with author Julian Heißler on his book "America's Oligarchs: Money, Power, and the Decline of Democracy—How Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Big Capital Are Driving the Division of the U.S."

How much political influence can be bought with private wealth before democratic processes are undermined? This question has taken on new urgency since the owners of major technology companies sat in the second row of the Capitol during Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, ahead of the future cabinet members. Julian Heißler, a longtime Washington correspondent for WirtschaftsWoche, takes this scenario as the starting point for his book on wealth and power in the United States.

The lecture and the subsequent discussion will focus on the tools of this influence and on the question of when economic strength turns into political power. What role do social media platforms play when their owners are simultaneously seeking government offices and contracts? What does it mean for public debate when the same individuals possess wealth, reach, and access to power? Heißler also identifies the counterforces and the limitations of previous reform attempts.

Free admission. Please register here .