The Failed Disenchantment of the Enemy of Democracy, Peter Thiel

Peter Thiel's planned appearance at the Festwochen festival has been canceled, drawing parallels to the controversial figure Jörg Haider, who generated significant attention before withdrawing from public life. Thiel's involvement had been a subject of speculation and marketing by Festwochen director Milo Rau before the eventual cancellation. Despite not appearing, Thiel reportedly had sufficient opportunity to disseminate his views publicly.

Rau's initial invitation and subsequent cancellation of Thiel's participation have sparked discussion. The situation has been described as Thiel being "not yet there and already gone again." The narrative suggests that Rau himself engaged in a form of "sexy populism" by leveraging Thiel's controversial reputation for promotional purposes. The article implies that in a society perceived as increasingly secular or disillusioned, figures like Thiel, even those considered antagonistic to democracy, can still command attention and generate debate.

The piece suggests that Thiel managed to convey his controversial theses to the public despite the cancellation. The comparison to Haider, a far-right Austrian politician, highlights concerns about the appeal of populist rhetoric and figures who challenge democratic norms. The article frames the situation within a broader context of societal engagement with controversial ideas and personalities, questioning the effectiveness of attempts to "disenchant" or deconstruct such figures.