Media Mentions
October 15, 2026
ISD’s Julia Ebner discusses her new book on politicization of extreme masculinity
In recent years, far-right movements have increasingly used the resurgence of group fitness as a tool for recruitment and radicalization.
ISD Germany Co-Executive Director Julia Ebner’s discusses this ongoing phenomenon in her new book “From Fitness to Facism,” which she details in recent interviews with outlets Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) and Tagesspiegel.
In her interviews, Julia explained how extremist movements have exploited the communal experience of fitness through active clubs, and their leaders often target people experiencing identity crises. Julia described how active clubs, and the manosphere more broadly, provide a way out of the crisis felt by young men.
Julia was also asked about her book’s description of the driving factors of radicalization: stress, scarcity and status competition. She discussed her hypothesis, which is that the rise of these factors explains the current resurgence of extreme forms of masculinity worldwide. These feelings, she explained, are compounded by the current sense of deprivation because of economic crises and a sense of generational injustice.
When asked about counterstrategies, Julia emphasized the importance of role models that demonstrate positive behavioral patterns, particularly in high-stress and competitive situations.
The full interviews are available on FAZ and Tagesspiegel.
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