«Everything» has become political – what you eat, what you wear, where you work, what you dream of. Political engagement permeates society, and movements like Occupy Wall Street, the Yellow Vests, and Fridays for Future emerge and create headlines, before disappearing just as quickly. Yet this politicization does not lead to real social change, only to disillusionment and frustration.

This is how Belgian historian Anton Jäger defines our times in his book Hyperpolitics: Extreme Politicization without Political Consequences. Jäger describes how we are caught between continuous politicization and political apathy, where the focus has shifted from institutions to short lived movements and social media.

Torbjørn Røe Isaksen is the political editor in the business newspaper E24, and he has read Jäger’s book with great interest. In addition to his long experience as an MP and from various ministerial positions in government for the Norwegian conservative party Høyre, he is the author of several books, including Ingen tror på nåtiden (No one believes in the present) from 2023. He joined Jäger during the Festival of Non-Fiction 2025 for a conversation about our hyperpolitical present, and what to do about it.

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