Dagmar Herzog

Dagmar Herzog, a history professor at the Graduate Center, CUNY and author of *The Question of Unworthy Life*, delves into the harrowing history of the Nazi regime's systematic extermination of nearly 300,000 individuals with disabilities. She discusses the chilling influence of eugenics and how societal attitudes toward disability allowed such atrocities to occur. Herzog highlights the bureaucratic methods behind the euthanasia program and the long struggle for recognition and reconciliation of these crimes in modern Germany.

Dagmar Herzog, a distinguished historian at CUNY, explores the chilling dynamics of modern fascism. She argues that the allure of aggression and 'sexy racism' fuels far-right movements, exemplified by Germany's AfD party. Herzog links eroticized racism to fears surrounding migration, while unpacking how historical fascism intertwined sexuality and eugenics. Delving into disability, she reveals how societal hierarchies and myths about perfection justify cruelty. Herzog stresses the urgency of solidarity with vulnerable populations in today's political climate.

In this discussion, Dagmar Herzog, a distinguished historian of modern Europe, explores the complex intersections of fascism, sexuality, and disability. She introduces the concept of 'sexy racism' as a driving force in modern far-right movements, particularly through Germany's Alternative für Deutschland party. Herzog reveals how fascism weaponizes pleasure and aggression, and she argues that the obsession with purity often leads to brutal discrimination against marginalized bodies. Her insights challenge traditional narratives about Nazism and emphasize the relevance of these themes in today's political landscape.