Right Wing Politics In Germany
Should extreme right political parties in Germany be banned?
Introduction
Germany has an infamous and dark history concerning right wing politics. 1939 Germany invaded Poland under right wing rule. 50 to 70 million people died in the war that started after the invasion of Poland. Ever since the war, Germany has been known across the world for their dark right wing political history. As right wing politics are such a big part of Germany's history, it's no surprise that there are still some supporters to the right wing ideas. One of the political parties, the NPD, is a modern day Nazi party. In English “Die Nationale Partei Deutschland” is translated to the National Party of Germany. With 13 seats in the parliament building the party members are a minority as there is total of 1875 seats in the building.
Perspectives
Global:
The obvious first perspective is Germany. Two thirds of the German population is supporting the NPD ban, according to the TV channel N24. In July 2011 63% of the population was for a ban, which quickly grew to 73%. The NPD political group has only 22% of the population against the ban. This does not mean that 22% of the people are NPD supporters; they are simply against the ban. Germans often get hurt in the protest organized by the NPD and buildings get damaged often too. The protest often turns violent and racist. The police often must interfere which is a lot of trouble and there are often injuries. The peaceful protest offends many Germans too.
The UN human rights bill states, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” (UN, Human rights bill). If the ban was to commence the UN human rights bill, would have to be ignored and Germany have signed the treaty. The UN would surely disapprove of this action, yet how they would react is unclear.
Amnesty international is an activist group which works for human rights around the globe. They support the UN human rights treaty. It is possible that they will be upset with Germany if Germany decides to ban right-wing parties. Yet Amnesty might agree with Germany and see that the Neo-Nazi misuses their right and use it for hate speech. Amnesty agrees with the UN human rights bill, as they often mention it. On their site its says,”Working to Protect Human Rights.” (Amnesty, Amnesty website). Yet this bill would go against this claim of amnesty as it ignores the Un, Human rights bill.
Local:
The German government loses a lot of money due to the protests and it's a lot of trouble sending out police to break up the fighting from the Nazi's. Buildings are damaged, people are hurt and people are offended. The German government has had enough of having to chaperone every protest organized by the NPD. Yet the main push behind the government is the people.
The German population is mostly against the NPD. They have been pushing the German government to introduce this ban yet it has not been signed yet. It is clear that the Nazi's are not welcome in Germany. Before nearly every planned and announced Nazi protest there is a large gathering anti-Nazi supporters block the roads to the protest can't even take place. The Germans live in fear, especially the immigrants as they often become targets of the aggressive protests.
The NPD feels that they have the right to perform peaceful protest and to let their opinion and voice be heard. They feel that it is not hate speech, it's the truth. The claim to be non-racist and non-Antisemitic yet there ideas says differently. When people ask about their dislike against Jewish people they respond “Even Jews must be criticized.” They answer must of their question about what they do and what they want very generally.
Personal:
My Grandfathers father was in the Second World War. In fact on my dad's side my grandfather brother died in the war. Yet on my mother’s side my great father survived the war. He spent a few years as a POW (prisoner of war). He didn't sign up for the army, he was unwillingly enlisted. My (father’s side) grandmother had told me how gruesome the war was for her. She was just a little girl and she was living in Poland, before the invasion. She was evacuated but she had still saw war ships firing. She told me that she had seen her house burnt to the ground. My grandfather (maternal side) feels strongly against the Nazi party. He also faced bad times during war, only as a child. When my grandparents see these parades of swastikas and Hitler supporters they are hurt because the things they want to be left alone, as it is very dark history, are being paraded and celebrated. Germany's Nazi history is an open gash and the NPD is poking it.
I'm affected by my grandparents. I'm very close to my grandparents. I spend every summer at least a week with both sides. I'm offended too when I see the swastika, not as much as grandparents are, yet I know what they have been through. I can take a simple Nazi joke and I'll agree, sometimes I even make one. Yet when it's taking seriously and people start to respect a man which is responsible for 6 million to 7 million deaths, that is very offense.
Scenarios And Issue
Issues
Issue:
The views of the right wing parties is offending Germans.
What are some causes or conditions of this issue?
The dark history concerning Nazis is a very sensitive subject for nearly every German. Especially for those who lived though the war. People have pu the history behind them and the Nazis bring it back. “I think it’s important to support my city and show that there’s no place for extremists.” (Anti nazi protester/ Name unknown, 12/02/13)
Issue:
The Right Wing politicians are misusing the freedom of speech to use as hate speech and to discriminate.
What are some causes or conditions of this issue?
When the NPD politicians say things like “nigger” or other offense things on television, the people watching are often offended. Yet they get into no trouble what so ever. So they continue to blurt out racist words and things.
Issue:
Right Wing politics and things that right wing politicians say lead to an increase of violence.
What are some causes or conditions of this issue?
Right wing politicians have become part of the Neo-Nazi movement in Germany and to some Nazis, even leaders. So when they things like, “Go home” (NPD politician, unknown) to black politicians it can result in a major issue like a hate crime against blacks.
Schall a CDU politician who was called a "ratings-Nigger" (NPD politician , date unknown) and was to told to "directly head home to Angola." As he was "no longer needed."
Scenarios
Scenario:
The influence of the NPD will increase and Nazis could be restored to their old power.
What is your evidence to make you think this will happen?
Germany Npd still exists and the Nazi ban is not going get signed. This allows the NPD of growing and sharing their ideas across the country. The NPD uses tactics such as parties for kids to convince little children from a young age that being a Nazi is not a bad thing. (Netz-Gegen-Nazis, 14. September 2010)
How likely it will occur:
It’s not very likely as after the War nearly all of Germany has turned against the idea of Nationalism. The NPD now is already losing power and is being destroyed in the votes. They only have 12 seats in total in the government.
Course of Action:
If the NPD does become a problem, by becoming aggressive, then the NPD ban could be re-introduced.
Scenario:
The NPD’s views could cause in a increase of criminality and terrorism.
Evidence:
The Nazi killer trio who believe to have killed more than 20 people, to scare the Turkish population of Germany. And it's very possible that they felt they were compelled to do these things due to the NPD.
How likely it will occur:
It has already occurred and it's very likely to happen again.
Course of Action:
The police could crackdown on cases like the Nazi trio ass the Nazi trio was already known to the police for a while so it's possible they have other cases like these.
Scenario:
The protests arranged by the NPD could cause destruction and violence in the area where they take place.
Evidence:
Protests organized by the NPD have already often turned into violent acts of hate against race or religion.For example on October the 13 of 2009 the Neo-Nazi protester got into fighting with anti Neo-nazi protesters, it took some 1000 riot police officers to calm down the situation. (Press Tv, October 19 2009)
How likely it will occur:
As it has already happened it is very likely that it will occur again.
Course of Action:
The NPD ban could be introduced if the protests do turn violent more often.
Neo-Nazi
Neo-Nazi protest with a torch in Dresden.
Protest
A Nazi protest becomes violent and riot police have to engage.
Pictures
An NPD supporter waving his flag at a protest
Should extreme right political parties in Germany be banned?
I think that NPD ban is not necessary yet as the actions of the NPD have not been extreme enough yet, and it's imperative that Germany remains a free country and does not ingnore the Un human rights that was signed. But the German government should restrict some of the things the NPD is allowed to do or say, such as saying the word “Nigger” in an interview. Before researching I had no idea how extreme and present the Neo-Nazi problem. I personally believe that NPD should not be allowed to involve children and they should not be allowed to protest as their protests often turn violent, which causes lots of damage and spends time and money. Yet my opinion may not be as valid as someone who actually has to put up with Nazis as they live in Germany.
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