For at least the last two-and-a-half decades, critical theory in the humanities and social sciences has been concerned, amongst other things, with exploring the myths and fictions of nationalist thought. Instead of the coherence of ′imagined communities′, or even the unity of the individual subject, it emphasises the multiple, shifting, fragmented and often contradictory modes of identification that characterise what are referred to variously as the ′postmodern′, ′postcolonial′, ′posthistorical′ or ′postideological′ conditions of the contemporary world. Yet recent history, specifically the decade following the end of the Cold War, has seen a rise in nationalist sentiments and struggles, and numerous wars have been fought over inclusive and exclusive conceptions of identity. Far from disappearing, arguments about national belonging and cultural difference have had increased prominence in the 1990s. In Europe, the reunified Germany, which had been at the centre of the ideological struggle between the East and the West during the Cold War has seen a resurgence of nationalism often manifested in aggression and discrimination against minorities. Contemporary bias crime in Germany increased significantly after reunification and remained at a relatively high, though fluctuating, level for the past decade. As a consequence, Germany today is not only struggling to come to terms with its National-Socialist past but also with the recent uprisings in nationalism and xenophobia and competing demands of difference and unity as it seeks to reconstruct itself in more humane and equitable ways. These issues are no less relevant today as we approach the end of 2007 - one year after a celebrated World Cup event, were Germany proclaimed "Zu Gast bei Freunden" - a year which saw racist incidents against minorities at so-called "Volksfesten" and other places erupt once again. In the following pages an attempt has been made to examine the causes and roots of the lasting crisis in German society by putting forward economic, psychological, political, historical, and cultural explanations.
Table of Contents
Introduction
General conditions for right-wing extremism in the new states
Immigration and the state’s response
National identity and the German question
Conclusions and discussion
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper critically examines the multifaceted factors that have contributed to the resurgence of nationalism and xenophobia in Germany following the country's reunification, analyzing the phenomenon through economic, psychological, political, and historical lenses.
- The socio-economic impact of reunification and the "shock of modernisation" on East Germany.
- Psychological factors, including identity crises and feelings of disenfranchisement among the post-GDR generation.
- The influence of the GDR's educational system and its treatment of the National-Socialist past.
- The role of immigration policies and the political state response in shaping anti-foreign sentiment.
- The complex quest for a modern German national identity in a post-division, multi-ethnic society.
Excerpt from the Book
General conditions for right-wing extremism in the new states
In 1997, the area of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) as a whole accounted for roughly 45 percent of right-wing acts of violence nationwide, though only 20 percent of the population lives here (Kim, 1998: 7). A common approach within the social sciences to explain the high numbers of assaults in the east is to attribute racism to the socio-economic effects of reunification on the East German population. After reunification East Germany experienced what Weidenfeld (1993: 285) has called a ‘shock of modernisation’. High hopes of freedom and prosperity were dashed by the collapse of the East German economy and ‘learned socialist experiences were not in demand anymore’ (ibid. 285, my own translation). Full employment, which the regime of the GDR had guaranteed and which had formed a ‘central social value and an essential fundament for a stable identity’ was and still is scarce and many people, especially young unskilled workers, found themselves on the street. At the same time, the social institutions, like the Young Pioneers and the Free German Youth, that had provided low-cost meeting-places, as well as sporting and hobby activities for the youths, disappeared. Instead, ‘West German right-wing organisations set up shops in the East’ (Ostow, 1995: 89) and started youth groups, providing meeting places, comradeship and an ideology.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter contextualizes the rise of nationalist sentiments in 1990s Germany, highlighting the significant increase in violent incidents post-reunification and setting the analytical framework for the paper.
General conditions for right-wing extremism in the new states: This section explores the socio-economic and psychological triggers for right-wing violence in the former GDR, focusing on the "shock of modernisation" and the loss of social structures.
Immigration and the state’s response: This chapter analyzes how German political policies toward asylum and immigration have contributed to the framing of foreigners as a "problem" rather than addressing structural integration issues.
National identity and the German question: This part examines the historical difficulty in defining a post-war German identity, exploring concepts like "constitutional patriotism" and the influence of colonial history and cultural dimensions on national behavior.
Conclusions and discussion: The final section synthesizes the various causes of the societal malaise and emphasizes the urgent need for political leadership to address the crisis through education and a proactive approach to national identity.
Keywords
Nationalism, Xenophobia, Germany, Reunification, Right-wing extremism, Post-modernism, Immigration, National identity, Vergangenheitsbewältigung, Social-economic transition, GDR, Frankfurt School, Cultural dimensions, Anti-fascism, Globalization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper critically examines the underlying factors contributing to the surge of nationalism and xenophobia in Germany specifically after the reunification of East and West Germany.
What primary themes are analyzed?
The study investigates economic displacement, psychological identity vacuums, shortcomings in the educational approach to the Nazi past, and the political mismanagement of immigration and national identity.
What is the main objective of the author?
The objective is to explain the roots of the lasting crisis in German society by synthesizing economic, psychological, political, historical, and cultural perspectives to move beyond simplistic explanations.
Which research methodology is employed?
The research is a qualitative analysis utilizing a review of existing academic literature, sociological studies, and historical/political reports to identify patterns of right-wing extremism.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body examines the specific transition difficulties in the former GDR, the impact of German immigration policy, and the philosophical challenges of establishing a German national identity after 1945.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include nationalism, xenophobia, reunification, right-wing extremism, immigration, national identity, and social-economic transition.
How did the collapse of the GDR affect youth identity?
The collapse led to an "identity vacuum" and loss of social status, making many young East Germans susceptible to right-wing ideologies as a form of rebellion against both the old socialist establishment and the new capitalist reality.
Why does the author argue that "blaming the victim" is a political failure?
The author argues that focusing on immigration as the cause of racism is a strategy that ignores the state's discriminatory policies and its failure to introduce realistic integration and settlement programs.
- Quote paper
- Florian Mayer (Author), 2003, Critically examine the factors that have contributed to nationalism and xenophobia in Germany after reunification, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/13595
