Sub-Cultural Aspects of Right-Wing Extremism

Abstract

The point of departure for right-wing agitation is the naturalization of politics and society. The belief in systems of leaders and vassals, in struggling as an existential form of life, the belief that peoples should be sharply separated and the identification with one’s own are the basic patterns of a political ideology which is legitimated by the unquestionable axiomatic faith that these principles are a natural given (Jaschke 1987). From this point of view, which does not require any further rational foundation because of the eternal validity of its principles, present circumstances such as the quarelling between political parties or the increasing rate of foreigners seem to be unnatural or decadent. It is the mythical belief in Germany and in the German people and its fate that determines the spirit of the right wingers and not any rational discourse, argument, compromise or the conflict of legitimate pluralist interests. Thus the right wingers are opposed to a democratic culture of political discussions, which is based on willingness to compromise, a basic consensus and respect for the legitimate interests of others (Sarcinelli 1990).