Wednesday, June 25, 2003
10.30 am-16.00 pm
Berlin, as the former "Reichshauptstadt", has a special ideological meaning for both varieties of German right-wing extremism, for the parties from the organized spectrum (NPD, Republikaner) as well as for subcultural groups (nazi-skinheads, comrade-associations). The right-wing extremism scene in Berlin has changed significantly since the fall of the Berlin wall. In 1989/90, both varieties of right-wing extremism got together: the organized one from the West met the subcultural one from the East. Parties and organizations such as NPD, Republikaner, or FAP moved their headquarters from West Germany to Berlin in order to strategically build up a scene that is oriented toward party politics. The current situation is characterized by an unchanged (and unchallenged?) high potential of right-wing extremist attitudes with a simultaneous stagnation of the institutional spectrum of right-wing extremism. Meanwhile, the subcultural spectrum remains vital and active, the assaults on people motivated by right-wing extremism are increasing. At the same time, the high profile in the public sphere through demonstrations and manifestations plays a major role in the strategy of right-wing extremists in Berlin.
The tour will start with a visit to a museum in order to provide historical context and an adequate framework. There is no museum that deals solely with contemporary right-wing extremism, but there are several places in Berlin that focus on the topic of fascism and World War II. Along this line, we argue that one has to analyse right-wing extremism of the 21st century in a political continuity to fascism of the 20th century, and that it can not be explained in terms of a violent subculture nor is it part of a urban youth phenomenon. The museum's visit will be followed by two discussion rounds: The first one will attempt to analyse the state of the art of right-wing extremism in Berlin, taking in account the different developments in East and West. In the second discussion round various counter strategies will be presented and discussed: the engagement of youth- and community based initiatives as well as state-f(o)unded (quasi) civil society groups. In both discussion rounds we intend to present diverse approaches, radical and reformist, in order to point out the wide range in which this topic is embedded.