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Trump supporters protesting in Arizona
Photo: Courtney Pedroza / Getty Images
SPIEGEL:
Mr. Perlstein, in your books you describe the division in American society since the 1960s.
Now the next US President Joe Biden has announced that he wants the country to be one.
Do you still think that this is a sensible strategy?
Perlstein:
I have to go back a little: In my books I describe how the modern battle order came about, the current split.
But the United States almost didn't exist.
In the 18th and 19th centuries there were many pacts with the devil so that the states would unite in the first place.
For example, an anti-democratic electoral committee was set up so that the smaller states could also participate.
Later there was the civil war.
SPIEGEL:
What does that mean for the present?
Perlstein:
America has never been united, you just want to cover up the unease about it in political communication.
American elites exaggerate the idea of unity as a national ideal - because it would be terrible to worry about reality.
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