The essays in this collection write against the prevailing spirit of the times - the spirit of those in power who plunge the world into increasingly devastating wars and continue to undermine democratic achievements. Drawing on developments such as the Ukraine war and the conflict in the Middle East, Reinhard Straumann poses the question: Has the West gone mad? All the texts included in this volume are supplemented weekly with new writings on current issues: on everything that the struggle for "real" democracy demands, which often stands in stark contrast to the major media, both public and private.