The NPD ban, the AfD, and Germany’s role in the EU: Interview with NPR Worldview

The NPD ban, the AfD, and Germany's role in the EU: Interview with NPR Worldview 1

[contentcards url="https://www.wbez.org/shows/worldview/german-court-considers-case-that-would-ban-neo-nazi-party/42877584-36c8-4fa1-9ad2-f8690628b25e"] On Wednesday, I was live on NPR’s Worldview program talking about the possible ban of the NPD, the rise of the AfD, and the implications for the EU. That sounds like a lot of acronyms, but then again, 15 minutes was more than the 90 seconds of soundbites I had budgeted for :-)…

Will the right-wing extremist NPD be banned? We have no idea, actually

Unbalanced Scale Silhouette

After a subjective decade, the trial that could lead to a ban of the right-wing extremist NPD, Germany’s oldest surviving Extreme Right party, has finally begun this week. That alone is news: Last time around, a blocking minority of the judges was so concerned about the unknown informers within the party’s leadership that the proceedings…

The AfD and refugees: Fire (and forget)

Everyone is excited this morning,  because AfD leader Frauke Petry suggested that German police officers should shoot refugees at the border if necessary (what ever that means). With the usual qualifications and rhetorical back doors, the party is happily channeling the vigilante spirit that has grabbed parts of the German public. Disgust and free headlines…

West European Politics Virtual Special Issue on Populist Parties

West European Politics has released a virtual special issue on (European) populist parties. The collection brings together a host of articles that were published in the journal over the last 20 years or so, including some evergreens by Paul Taggart, Cas Mudde, David Art, Sarah de Lange, and other chums. Disclaimer: My own article on…

AfD party conference votes down exec’s proposal on asylum, adopts more radical resolution

AfD party conference votes down exec's proposal on asylum, adopts more radical resolution 4

Following the meeting in July that led to a split of the party, the AfD is holding another party conference this weekend. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports that the assembly has just voted down a position paper on asylum drafted by the national exec and backed by the new leader. Internally, the paper was seen as…

Pegida borrows from the NPD’s vocabulary

“Cult of guilt” (Schuldkult) is a phrase that was coined in the early 1990s. It is a highly loaded term that is used almost exclusively by the NPD and other right-wing extremist groups whenever the crimes of the Nazis are mentioned. That Pegida would use that word, on that day, and that the crowds would cheer, is significant.