Right-Wing Extremism in Contemporary Germany

This volume surveys the contemporary right-extremist scene in Germany since the country's unification in 1990. It covers first the Weimar, Nazi, and post-World War II periods in West and East Germany. After 1945 three major right-extremist parties, neo-Nazi groups and skinhead gangs challenged the establishment in West Germany while rightist youth groups emerged in East Germany. Reunification produced severe economic and social problems for the youth of eastern Germany. As a result, violence against foreigners, leftists, gays, Gypsies and the homeless, and vandalism at Jewish sites, all increased significantly. Rightist groups seek to gain more support among the young through a range of media and rock concerts. Their recruitment efforts are often successful despite the national, state and local pro-democracy programs that are organized to counteract them. Braunthal raises the question whether the democratic system can survive this rightist challenge in the face of a global recession.

Gerard Braunthal is Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA.