Restoring the Reich

The Language of the Reichsbürger

By (author) Georg Schuppener

Book cover: Restoring the Reich

Extent: 196 pages

Publisher: V&R unipress

Subjects: German Studies, Language & Linguistics, Social Sciences 

Language: English

Hardback (Published)

(February 2025)

ISBN: 9783847118022

6.3 x 9.33 inches

Price: $63.00

In stock

The strategies of the Reichsbürger language – comprehensively analysed for the first time


The Reichsburger movement is – at least in terms of public awareness – a rather recent political phenomenon, even though its roots go back at least as far as the 1970s. This volume is the first to focus on the linguistic specifics of the Reichsburger movement. Adopting a politolinguistic perspective, it analyses the peculiarities and strategies evident in the self-presentation and, especially, in the propaganda of the Reichsburger. Central aspects of the Reichsburger worldview are analysed and deconstructed with regard to their linguistic representation. These include, for instance, messages relating to violence, war discourses, conspiracy theories and pseudo-religious references, which are used in the scene to justify their fundamental rejection of the social and political reality of the Federal Republic of Germany. The study pays particular attention to the linguistic expression of Reichsburger identity, not only looking at the self-presentation of Reichsburger, but also at how and with which linguistic means they attempt to obstruct state institutions and representatives.

  • By (author) Georg Schuppener

»Eine sehr aufschlussreiche Spezialstudie, die auf einige dieser Fragen erste Antworten gibt, legt der Linguist Georg Schuppener vor. Er hat verschiedene Textkorpora zusammengestellt, um die Sprachverwendung von Reichsbürgern zu untersuchen. Denn deren Wortwahl ist Werkzeug und Bestandteil ihrer spezifischen Praxis.«

– Soziopolis.de (Anette Schlimm, 03.07.2025)