Uma teoria racional do nazismo?

This article analyzes the explanation proposed by William Brustein in The Logic of Evil (1996) in light of rational choice new institutionalism, examining how individuals joined the Nazi Party based on strategic calculations in the face of institutional constraints and contextual incentives. Drawing on a broad empirical foundation, Brustein argues that extreme political decisions can be understood as rational, even when they lead to tragic outcomes. By combining institutional theory and historical analysis, this paper offers an original contribution by proposing a cross-reading of strategic rationality and political affiliation, exploring the limits and possibilities of new institutionalism in explaining political behavior in times of crisis.