The central question of this essay is if the actions performed by the Identitäre Bewegung to communicate an openly racist view of life can be seen as legitimate civil disobedience as defined by Celikates very broad and open take on civil disobedience in general. This will be done by examining certain actions executed by the Identitäre Bewegung and questioning if Celikates´ definition would possibly qualify them as civil disobedience as a political practice.
They are young, they present themselves in a well-educated and intellectual way through referring to literature and juristic paragraphs, and they officially distance themselves from right-wing extremism, but mainly they are one thing: confrontational in a very present way. The Identitäre Bewegung is a relatively new movement inspired by a similar development in France.
In the increasing immigration of refugees to Germany in 2015 the movement sees the initiation of unjust ruling and measures of the German government. Without regard for its citizens´ safety an unlimited as well as unregulated flood of strangers was granted entrance into the country.
In their opinion the only possibility to antagonize the German state's unjust actions are acts of civil disobedience. The Identitäre Bewegung is performing actions which aim at creating as much public attention as possible by being extreme and extraordinary. Examples are climbing the Brandenburger Tor in Berlin or trying to gain access to the German ministry of justice.
The theoretical framework viewed in this essay is the radical democratic take on civil disobedience as worded by Robin Celikates. His theoretical approach and definition of civil disobedience will be contemplated in-depth before the Identitäre Bewegung, it’s origin and ideological position, will be generally defined.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Robin Celikates' definition of civil disobedience and its difference to the liberal point of view
- 2.1 Appeal to the majority's sense of justice
- 2.2 The question of non-violence
- 2.3 The relation between symbolic value and real confrontation
- 2.4 Fidelity to law
- 3. Identitäre Bewegung
- 4. Analysis of actions performed by the Identitäre Bewegung
- 4.1 Occupation of the Brandenburger Tor in Berlin
- 4.2 Blockade of the German Department of Justice
- 4.3 The case of militant actions in general
- 5. Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to analyze whether the actions of the Identitäre Bewegung (IB), a German nationalist group, can be classified as legitimate civil disobedience according to Robin Celikates' broader definition. It will explore Celikates' theoretical framework and compare it to a liberal perspective on civil disobedience. The essay will then examine specific actions of the IB and assess their compatibility with Celikates' criteria.
- Celikates' definition of civil disobedience and its departure from liberal theory.
- The Identitäre Bewegung's ideology and motivations.
- Specific actions undertaken by the Identitäre Bewegung (e.g., Brandenburger Tor occupation).
- The role of violence and its interpretation within the context of civil disobedience.
- The application of Celikates' framework to assess the legitimacy of the IB's actions.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by introducing the Identitäre Bewegung (IB), a relatively new movement in Germany, and its confrontational approach to what it views as unjust government policies regarding immigration. The chapter establishes the central research question: Can the IB's actions be considered legitimate civil disobedience according to Robin Celikates' framework? The essay's methodology—a detailed examination of Celikates' theory followed by an analysis of the IB's actions—is outlined, highlighting the key aspects that will be explored in subsequent chapters.
2. Robin Celikates' definition of civil disobedience and its difference to the liberal point of view: This chapter delves into Celikates' radical democratic understanding of civil disobedience, contrasting it with the more restrictive liberal perspective. It details four key aspects of Celikates' definition: the appeal to the majority's sense of justice (which Celikates argues is not always necessary), the question of non-violence (where Celikates challenges the categorical exclusion of violence), the relationship between symbolic acts and real confrontation, and the fidelity to law. The chapter highlights Celikates' critique of the potentially manipulative nature of societal perceptions of justice and the problematic vagueness of the definition of "violence" within the context of civil disobedience.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Civil disobedience, Robin Celikates, Identitäre Bewegung, radical democracy, liberal theory, non-violence, political protest, legitimate resistance, immigration, Germany.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of the Identitäre Bewegung and Civil Disobedience
What is the main topic of this text?
This text analyzes whether the actions of the German nationalist group, Identitäre Bewegung (IB), can be classified as legitimate civil disobedience according to Robin Celikates' definition. It compares Celikates' theoretical framework with a liberal perspective and examines specific actions of the IB to assess their compatibility with Celikates' criteria.
What are the key themes explored in this analysis?
The key themes include Celikates' definition of civil disobedience and its contrast with liberal theory; the Identitäre Bewegung's ideology and motivations; specific actions of the IB (such as the Brandenburger Tor occupation and blockade of the German Department of Justice); the role of violence in civil disobedience; and the application of Celikates' framework to assess the legitimacy of the IB's actions.
Who is Robin Celikates, and what is his role in this analysis?
Robin Celikates is a key figure in this analysis. His definition of civil disobedience, which departs from the more restrictive liberal perspective, provides the theoretical framework for evaluating the actions of the Identitäre Bewegung. The text details four aspects of Celikates' definition: appeal to the majority's sense of justice, the question of non-violence, the relationship between symbolic acts and real confrontation, and fidelity to law.
What are the specific actions of the Identitäre Bewegung analyzed in this text?
The text analyzes several actions undertaken by the Identitäre Bewegung, including the occupation of the Brandenburger Tor in Berlin and the blockade of the German Department of Justice. The analysis also considers the question of militant actions in general performed by the group.
How does this analysis compare Celikates' definition of civil disobedience to a liberal perspective?
The analysis contrasts Celikates' radical democratic understanding of civil disobedience with the more restrictive liberal perspective. Key differences are highlighted regarding the necessity of appealing to the majority's sense of justice, the role of non-violence, and the relationship between symbolic and real confrontation. Celikates' critique of the potentially manipulative nature of societal perceptions of justice and the vagueness of "violence" within the context of civil disobedience are emphasized.
What is the conclusion of this analysis regarding the legitimacy of the Identitäre Bewegung's actions as civil disobedience?
The provided text does not explicitly state a final conclusion on whether the Identitäre Bewegung's actions constitute legitimate civil disobedience. The provided text outlines the framework for such an analysis but doesn't provide the answer within this preview. A full reading of the complete text would be required to reach that conclusion.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
The keywords associated with this analysis include: Civil disobedience, Robin Celikates, Identitäre Bewegung, radical democracy, liberal theory, non-violence, political protest, legitimate resistance, immigration, and Germany.
What is included in the text preview provided?
The preview includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. This gives a comprehensive overview of the structure and content of the full text.
- Quote paper
- Felix Früh (Author), 2018, Robin Celikates' Definition of Civil Disobedience. A Theoretical Foundation for the Activism of the Identitäre Bewegung?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/997003
