Right-wing extremism

Right-wing extremism is not to be understood as a uniform ideology. Rather, the term encompasses a variety of different currents, ideological orientations and organizational forms (cf. Grumke 2007, 20).

Right-wing extremism from the perspective of state institutions

From the point of view of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the term right-wing extremism covers those efforts that are directed against the free democratic basic order (FdGO) (cf. Jesse 2004, 9). Accordingly, the term extremism covers both left-wing and right-wing movements. Accordingly, right-wing extremism describes „the right-wing variant of political extremism“ (Grumke 2007, 21).

Right-wing extremism from the perspective of political science

In political science, right-wing extremism is understood as a „rather diffuse disparate field of attitudes, behavior, and organization“ (Gessenharter 1998, 33). While public positions usually focus on extremist behavior – such as the perpetration of right-wing violence – the political science perspective emphasizes the relevance of the attitudinal level. In this context, militarism, chauvinism, social Darwinism, authoritarianism, racism, anti-Semitism, and pro-Nazism are considered components of right-wing extremist attitudinal patterns (cf. Grumke 2007, 22; cf. Stöss 2000, 20 ff.). Not all elements have to occur simultaneously in order to exhibit right-wing extremist attitudes. Nevertheless, it can be assumed „that the majority of elements underlie when a person decides to become active in right-wing extremist groups or organizations“ (Grumke 2007, 23). Not every person who has a right-wing extremist attitude pattern also expresses it in his or her behavior. Therefore, it can be assumed that within a society the proportion of people with a closed right-wing extremist worldview is much higher than the number of people who express this attitude in corresponding behavior. Nevertheless, the attitude level is considered a necessary precondition for right-wing extremism. Both dimensions are to be distinguished from each other, but only together can they fully depict the concept of right-wing extremism (cf. Grumke 2007, 23; cf. Stoss 2000, 25).

Ideological characteristics

Racism represents a central feature of right-wing extremism. Here, the claim to universal human rights is rejected by assuming racial or ethical inequality. In this context, anti-Semitism is a particularly widespread form of racist thinking. Another characteristic is chauvinism, which describes an exaggerated nationalism that is usually characterized by a hostile attitude toward other states and peoples. A special feature is the concept of ethnopluralism. It is assumed that peoples are equal but not homogeneous. This natural inequality leads to crises, which is why the demand is made „that peoples be constructed as ethnically and culturally homogeneous, living separately from one another and not mixing“ (Bruns et al. 2015, 12) so that ‚cultural purity‘ can be ensured. A further characteristic of right-wing extremism can be identified as a trivialization or glorification of National Socialism. This also includes so-called historical revisionism, which goes hand in hand with the denial of the Holocaust and German guilt for World War II (cf. Grumke 2007, 24). In addition to these characteristics, a right-wing extremist ideology is characterized by the rejection of universal human rights, multiculturalism, and „the value pluralism of liberal democracy as expressed in parliamentary democratic systems“ (Grumke 2007, 25).

New Right

„What […] goes by the name of ‚right-wing extremism‘ in political discourse has changed so much over time that […] a more differentiated terminology than before seems necessary“ (Gessenharter/ Frochling 1998, 11). Within society, there is a widespread assumption that right-wing extremists appear as Springer boot-wearing, violence-prone skinheads and that right-wing extremist attitudes are to be reduced as a problem of violence-prone minorities who find themselves in a difficult life situation (cf. Bruns et al. 2015, 86). The New Right designates a political spectrum that established itself in the late 1960s, starting in France. It sees itself as a counterforce to the so-called ’68 movement. Accordingly, they are opposed to liberalism and egalitarianism. New Right actors are characterized by the fact that they are not dangerous in the sense that they can be compared to violent ‚thug Nazis‘. Rather, the danger lies in the fact that they try to penetrate the middle of the population and influence its thinking by inserting themselves into public-political discourses (cf. Mense et al. 2016, 183). In doing so, they pursue the goal of radicalizing the value-conservative middle, „by sustainably stirring up resentment against certain population groups“ (Bruns et al.2015, 14). They stand for inequality between people, anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim racism, conservative gender roles, and for a hierarchical society (cf. Bruns et al. 2015, 86).

Literature

Bruns, Julian/ Glösel, Kathrin/ Strobl, Natascha (2015): Rechte Kulturrevolution. Who and what is the New Right of today? Attac Basis Texte 47. Hamburg: VSA.

Gessenharter, Wolfgang (1998): New extreme right, intellectual new right, and right-wing extremism. In: Gessenharter, Wolfgang/ Fröchling, Helmut (eds.): Rechtsextremismus und neue Rechte in Deutschland: Zur theoretischen und empirischen Neuvermessung eines politisch-ideologischen Raumes? Wiesbaden: Springer, 25-66.

Gessenharter, Wolfgang/ Frochling, Helmut (1998): Right-wing Extremism and the New (Radical) Right – Invitation to a Dialogue. In: In: Gessenharter, Wolfgang/ Frochling, Helmut (eds.): Right-wing extremism and the new right in Germany: On the theoretical and empirical remeasurement of a political-ideological space? Wiesbaden: Springer, 11-24.

Grumke, Thomas (2007): Right-wing extremism in Germany. Concept – Ideology – Structure. In: Glaser, Stefan/ Pfeiffer, Thomas (eds.): Erlebniswelt Rechtsextremismus. Contempt for Humanity with Entertainment Value. Backgrounds. Methods. Practice of Prevention. Schwalbach am Taunus: Wochenschau Verlag, 19-35.

Jesse, Eckhard (2004): Forms of political extremism. In: Federal Ministry of the Interior (ed.): Extremism in Germany. Erscheinungsformen und aktuelle Bestandsaufnahme. Berlin, 7-24.

Mense, Thomas/ Schubert, Frank/ Widemann, Gregor (2016): From „concerned citizens“ to resistance fighters? – Pegida and the New Right. In: Decker, Oliver/ Kiess, Johannes/ Brähler, Elmar (eds.) (20016): Die enthemmte Mitte. AutoritÄre und rechtsextreme Einstellungen in Deutschland. 2nd ed. Giessen: Psychosozial-Verlag, 179-200.

Stöss, Richard (2000): Rechtsextremismus im vereinten Deutschland. 3rd ed. Berlin: Friedrich Ebert Foundation.