Oswald Spengler was one of the most important thinkers of the Weimar Republic, but very little has been published on his politics, philosophy and life, especially in the English-language.Oswald Spengler and the Politics of Decline transforms the pre-existing picture of Spengler by demonstrating how Spengler's radical opposition to liberal democracy was an unwavering facet of his thought from 1918 onwards. It adopts a completely novel approach by placing a new emphasis on his political activities and writings, and is unique in explaining the interplay between Spengler's meta-historical considerations on world history and the practical demands of Realpolitik throughout the complex discourse of German national renewal.

Ben Lewis is a Leverhulme Early Career Researcher at the University of Leeds. He has taught German language, politics and history at King's College London and the University of Sheffield. In total, he has edited and translated four volumes of texts by European socialist thinkers: Karl Kautsky on Democracy and Republicanism (2019); Clara Zetkin: Letters and Writings (2015; with Mike Jones); Karl Kautsky on Colonialism (2013; with Mike Macnair); and Zinoviev and Martov: Head to Head in Halle (2011; with Lars T. Lih).

Acknowledgments
Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1. Oswald Spengler's Life and Work: A Chronological Overview
Chapter 2. Spengler Reception and Research
Chapter 3. Decline, Determinism and Development
Chapter 4. Faustian Zivilisation: Prognosis and Perspectives
Chapter 5. Spengler's Prussian Socialism
Chapter 6. Rebuilding the German Reich: Illusion and Failure
Chapter 7. Decisive Years: Spengler and National Socialism

Concluding Remarks

Bibliography
Index