Discussion series: 360° – Threats to Jewish life in Germany and dangers to liberal democracy!
Panellists: • Thomas Haldenwang, President of the German Verfassungsschutz • Dr. Irene Mihalic, domestic policy spokesperson of the Bündnis 90/Die Grünen parliamentary group in the Bundestag • Armin Schuster, CDU, Obmann of the Committee on Internal Affairs and Community, former Obmann on the NSU committee of inquiry • Dr. Volker Weiß, author of “Die autoritäre Revolte: Die Neue Rechte und der Untergang des Abendlandes” Moderation: Dr. Ronen Steinke, Süddeutsche Zeitung The event was recorded on 13 May 2020. It took place in cooperation with the “Zentrum Liberale Moderne” (LibMod) and its project Gegneranalyse.Jews in Germany have been feeling increasingly unsafe, and not only since the attempted attack on the synagogue in Halle. Germany is changing. Radical forces from various sides are trying to divide society. The number of antisemitic offences is rising continuously.
For this reason, WerteInitiative is holding a discussion series on the topics of right-wing extremism, Islamism and left-wing extremism. In conversation with top-calibre guests and specialists, we look for concrete answers to the questions:
• Who exactly are these radical forces that threaten our democracy?
• What connects them, what distinguishes them?
• Is the future of Jewish life in Germany secure?
• Are our society and our democracy in danger?
Part 1: Right-wing extremism
From the NSU murders to the attack in Hanau: the subject of right-wing terrorism is present in public awareness. It is often described as a turning point. Right-wing terrorism in Germany, however, looks back on a long tradition: whereas in the past the security authorities were mostly confronted with organised neo-Nazi structures, the danger of individuals radicalising on the internet is currently rising sharply. What new challenges does this create for the security authorities? What do we know about the basic structures and methods of right-wing extremists? How can a society defend itself against these threats?
Our opening event on the subject of right-wing extremism will take place on 13 May. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the event will unfortunately be recorded without a live audience and then made available online.
The participants in our first discussion event are:
- Thomas Haldenwang (President of the German Verfassungsschutz)
- Dr. Irene Mihalic (Member of the Bundestag and domestic policy spokesperson of the BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN parliamentary group)
- Armin Schuster (Member of the Bundestag and Obmann of the CDU/CSU on the Committee on Internal Affairs / Obmann on the 2nd NSU committee of inquiry)
- Dr. Volker Weiß (author of “Die autoritäre Revolte. Die Neue Rechte und der Untergang des Abendlandes”).
In advance we also collected questions from our members, friends and followers, which we passed on to the moderator Dr. Ronen Steinke (Süddeutsche Zeitung) beforehand.Here is the link to the other 2 parts of the trilogy:
