A new report by legal experts has found that efforts to ban Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) could be successful — but there would be political dangers to such a move.
‘Successful’ in the very narrow sense that it would be legal to do so. But not successful in actually changing anyone’s politics or the material conditions that give rise to the AfD.
Fascists are not permitted a place in democracy as they are anti-democratic. It’s a simple principle that is part of what the German constitution is founded on. Letting them continue while the complex topics they propose simplistic fascist solutions for are addressed, is not an option.
No one thinks it will suddenly change the poltical views of all their voters. The AfD will no longer sit in every TV show spouting their bullshit. They will not get millions and millions of public money. And they will not become our government. That’s not a narrow success - that would be huge.
This is what I was getting at in my comment. There’s got to be an alternative that addresses those material conditions to durably prevent a right resurgence.
Well, it would probably splinter them into a few new parties as their extreme wing would need to be split off to avoid the same thing repeating with the next party.
This milder form would still be popular and the backlash could catapult them to power. But they might be in power soon anyways.
Best case they will get temporarily weakened and the Germans have time to learn from the American deserter and maybe the rise of the far right won’t be en vougue that much.
I guess you would be able to ban some central people from holding political office for a few years. But to can’t can every member from politics forever.
The AfD is pretty much the glue that is currently holding all the opposing far-right factions together. The moment they’re gone, there will be a lot of infighting.
‘Successful’ in the very narrow sense that it would be legal to do so. But not successful in actually changing anyone’s politics or the material conditions that give rise to the AfD.
Fascists are not permitted a place in democracy as they are anti-democratic. It’s a simple principle that is part of what the German constitution is founded on. Letting them continue while the complex topics they propose simplistic fascist solutions for are addressed, is not an option.
Exactly. Since when has the mainstream ever succeeded in de-radicalizing a group of political outsiders?
No one thinks it will suddenly change the poltical views of all their voters. The AfD will no longer sit in every TV show spouting their bullshit. They will not get millions and millions of public money. And they will not become our government. That’s not a narrow success - that would be huge.
This here. Thatcherism, Schröderism, Reaganism - libertarianism, austerity narratives & politics, “lobbyism” aka pro-billionaire politics aka taking legal bribes - they all helped advance far-right populism to the mainstream.
Plus most other (not even necessarily right-wing) parties helping them along by pointing the finger in the wrong direction: immigrants.
What did the piano playing kid from Charlie Brown/ Peanuts do?
This is what I was getting at in my comment. There’s got to be an alternative that addresses those material conditions to durably prevent a right resurgence.
Well, it would probably splinter them into a few new parties as their extreme wing would need to be split off to avoid the same thing repeating with the next party.
This milder form would still be popular and the backlash could catapult them to power. But they might be in power soon anyways.
Best case they will get temporarily weakened and the Germans have time to learn from the American deserter and maybe the rise of the far right won’t be en vougue that much.
They couldn’t splinter into new parties. Successor parties would be banned as well by this decision.
I guess you would be able to ban some central people from holding political office for a few years. But to can’t can every member from politics forever.
The AfD is pretty much the glue that is currently holding all the opposing far-right factions together. The moment they’re gone, there will be a lot of infighting.