More than a million people demonstrated against right-wing extremism and the AfD. Signs like “Voting for the AfD is so 1933” drew comparisons to the Weimar Republic. The fear of losing democracy concerns many Germans. Is she justified?
Dr. Floris Biskamp is a political scientist and right-wing extremism researcher at the University of Tübingen. He has been observing the Alternative for Germany (AfD) for years and is currently researching the “negotiation of boundaries of what can be said in political discourses”.
Mr. Biskamp, our democracy is through the AfD at risk?
Yes. Democracy doesn’t just mean elections every four years. Democracy also means that the freedom and equality of all people in a country is guaranteed. The AfD is attacking these norms – the Correctiv research made this clear again. In this respect, democracy is at risk. But not like in the Weimar Republic, but more like in Hungary or Turkey.
These comparisons exist in the current protests against right-wing extremism and the AfD. Some hold signs with inscriptions like: “Now we can find out what we would have done if we were in our grandparents’ place” or “Voting for the AfD is so 1933.” Are the comparisons to the Weimar Republic justified or is that exaggerated?
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
