Review: Lecture evening "Us and the others"

On the evening of April 13, 2016, an event organized by the research focus area “Transformation Processes in Economy and Society” took place, featuring two academic presentations that addressed the refugee migration of recent months and its impact on public opinion, particularly in Saxony. More than 180 interested attendees—students, staff, and residents of the city—accepted the invitation and gathered in the large lecture hall of the Peter-Dierich Building on the Zittau Campus.

Following opening remarks by the rector, Professor Dr. Friedrich Albrecht, the guest speaker from TU Dresden, Professor Dr. Werner Patzelt, took the floor first. The title of his presentation was:“Us and the Newcomers. The Unique Experiences and Worlds of the Imagination of (East) Germans.” In it, he summarized the processes of change over the past 25 years—still good in the memory of many in the audience—from political, economic, and social perspectives. Added to these processes—which, particularly with regard to demographic change and its consequences, are not yet over—are further challenges posed by the refugee migration of recent months. All of this is causing uncertainties about the medium- and long-term effects. Reluctance to interact with “the newcomers” may stem from the fact that, during the GDR era, there was no intensive contact with foreign residents. In his remarks, Professor Patzelt specifically advocated for a public exchange and a discussion of the various positions on migration and refugee policy: “Democracy can withstand something like this.” The focus should not be on unconditionally following one direction or opinion over another, but rather on independent reflection, including on the reasons behind opposing positions. Professor Patzelt emphasized that politicians and journalists, too, are in a relationship of mutual dependence with regard to perceived or actual public expectations. The political scientist sees one reason for the AfD’s strong showing in the recent elections in the CDU’s greater shift toward the center. Right-wing conservative positions, which had previously been advocated by the Christian People’s Party, were abandoned, thereby making room for another party that is more attractive to voters than the NPD. At the same time, the AfD’s electoral successes showed that this is not purely an Eastern German phenomenon.

Professor Dr. Raj Kollmorgen from the Faculty of Social Sciences then spoke on the topic “Right-wing Populism and Anti-Refugee Sentiment: Why Saxony in Particular?” First, he drew a definitional distinction between populism and extremism, and then presented some statistical evidence of an increased incidence of xenophobic crimes and a wider acceptance of xenophobic arguments in Saxony compared to the other federal states. He attributes this, in part, to the state government’s downplaying of far-right actors since the 1990s. On the other hand, electoral successes with absolute majorities may have lulled the ruling CDU into a false sense of security. In a second part, Professor Kollmorgen also addressed the influence of long-standing mentalities in Saxony. For example, there still seems to be a tendency toward strong, authoritarian figures and a romanticization of the old monarchy, as evidenced by the nickname “King Kurt” for the first Saxon Minister-President after 1990, Kurt Biedenkopf. He also considers significant the—in some cases warlike—experiences with foreign powers both within and outside Germany, particularly since the 18th century, during which Saxony regularly found itself on the losing side (as in the Napoleonic Wars). This, he argues, explains the greater emphasis on economic prosperity and culture. This has been—and continues to be—linked to a strong sense of regional identity. It is precisely the fear of threats from outsiders, of the loss of homeland and culture, and of repeated economic decline that has earned the representatives of right-wing populism and extremism in Saxony such a large following, often even from the center of society.

Following these two presentations, a lively discussion ensued among the participants. Some of the questions addressed the issue of personal advocacy efforts, the pros and cons of halting German arms exports, and suggestions for a direct exchange of views between right-wing and left-wing populists.

In this way, the research focus’s informational event achieved one of its main goals: to promote dialogue between academia and the general public, between young and old, and among people with different political views, thereby making a direct contribution to a vibrant democratic culture of debate.

The presentations can be listened to as audio recordings: mediathek.hszg.de

Text: Cornelia Müller