Roger de Weck: The Glory and Misery of the Conservatives

Roger de Weck was editor-in-chief of the Tages-Anzeiger and Die Zeit, moderator of the "Sternstunden Philosophie" (Philosophy Hours) program, and director general of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG). He is a visiting professor at the College of Europe in Bruges and president of the Jean Monnet Europa Foundation in Lausanne. Dr. Manfred Osten, a German author, lawyer, diplomat, and cultural historian, has frequently distinguished himself at the Waldhaus as a discussion partner on important issues. Democracy is a particularly important topic for both of them, as is the question of how we can preserve it. In his latest book, "Glanz und Elend der Konservativen" (The Glory and Misery of Conservatives), published by Suhrkamp in September 2026, de Weck examines the role of conservatives: no one can defend democracy more effectively—or weaken it more drastically—than conservatives. Liberal conservatives constitute the force that can exert the most pressure on right-wing authoritarians, as demonstrated in Hungary and Poland. But they are also the force most easily swayed by them. In Switzerland, center-right parties waver between their clear commitment to an open society and the temptation to borrow from right-wing populists who prioritize radicalism over stability. In Europe, liberal conservatives and Christian Democrats have often proven themselves to be innovators, launching the social market economy and European integration. But can conservatism itself renew itself?