I'm reading a fascinating book at the moment called Stasiland by an Australian author called Anna Funder which recounts some fairly harrowing stories about the all pervasiveness of the Stasi in the former GDR and its affect on the ordinary people.

Doing a bit of idle Youtubing brought me this snippet from a longer lecture, which I've stuck here for your interest. Some interesting points here which illuminate a lot of my own thoughts on the machinery of conservative politics and how fear is their greatest weapon.