Bedrängte Demokratie

Belatedly, but all the more extremist by European standards, democracy is now also under attack in Germany, and the experiences of German history, which led to the downfall of civilisation, seem to have been forgotten. The focus of perspektivends 2/23 BEDRÄNGTE DEMOKRATIE debates these new challenges for a pluralistic, tolerant, open democracy: The new Mitte study by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation came to the conclusion that the number of people in Germany with a closed, extreme right-wing world view has risen sharply. Dissatisfaction is growing and trust in democracy has declined significantly. Right-wing extremist parties are soaring in the polls. Insecurity and distributional conflicts provide a gateway for anti-democratic positions and far-right ideologies. Democracy, its basic principles, processes and institutions are increasingly viewed with distance by many. Last but not least, the strength of the anti-democratic right is the weakness of the democratic left. What are the reasons for the current dissatisfaction of so many people? What is driving them in such large numbers into the arms of misanthropes and opponents of democracy? Are there any peculiarities between East and West? Above all, however, is the question: What can we do to eliminate the causes of anti-democratic attitudes? Do our experiences of dictatorship not help? How can optimism about the future and visions of progress be regained, how can social democratic narratives of a better world be set against the simple and emotionalised narratives of the right? with contributions from Armin Pfahl-Traughber, Robert Misik, Wolfgang Thierse, Gero Neugebauer, Detlef Lehnert and others.