Curbing Radicalization Among Young Neo-Nazis in Thuringia: Setting Boundaries for the New Generation
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Guidance for Democratic Supporters: Establish Limits for Growing Neo-Nazi Youth Factions - Young neo-Nazi advocates establishing limits
In light of the escalating support among youth for right-wing extremist or populist views in Germany, especially in Thuringia, the Mobile Counseling in Thuringia (Mobit) is advocating for clear boundaries. "It's crucial to confront this emerging trend and avoid the tolerance witnessed in youth work during the 1990s," stated Felix Steiner, spokesperson for the democratization consultants.
Educational institutions require adequately trained staff, and there should be support projects to introduce young people to the socially accepted values and norms in Germany. Steiner pointed out that right-wing extremist behavior was often tolerated in youth work during the 1990s.
Young AfD Voters and the Federal Election
Covering 20% of the votes cast by the under-25 age group, the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) was the most popular party in this year's federal election, second only to the Left with one in four young voters. Worryingly, the Thuringian AfD state association, led by Björn Höcke, is classified as securely right-wing extremist and under surveillance by the state constitutional protection office.
Steiner called for the protection of individuals targeted by young right-wing extremists, citing the group "Last Defense Wave" as an example. In May, a nationwide raid against this suspected right-wing extremist cell led to the arrest of five young individuals aged between 14 and 18. Accused of planning attacks on asylum shelters and left-wing facilities, the group was allegedly intent on destabilizing the democratic system.
Minister Maier's Concerns and Solutions
Georg Maier, Thuringia's Interior Minister, noted that right-wing extremist offenders have increasingly become younger. He suggested that radicalization primarily occurs via social networks, where violent content is shared normalizing such behavior. In larger cities, efforts to counter this trend are already underway, but more focus is required in rural areas.
Familial Tolerance and Initial Signs of Trouble
Steiner shared instances where students openly identified as "young National Socialists" in classrooms and where a teacher had to speak with a parent regarding a student wearing a right-wing extremist symbol-laden T-shirt to school. The mother admitted to the teacher that she had bought the T-shirt and approved of her son wearing it at school. Steiner noted that many young people expressing right-wing populist or extremist views come from families who support or tolerate such views.
Examining Thuringia's Voting Behavior
In a recent article for "Thuringian States," authors including the director of the Center for Right-wing Extremism Research, Tobias Rothmund, analyzed Thuringian voters' behavior in the 2024 state election. According to their study, a significant number of voters had cast their votes for the AfD, deemed right-wing extremist. However, about one-third of the participants ended up voting for a different party at the last minute. The AfD and The Left saw the strongest commitment among their voters, with only about one-fifth changing their minds at the last moment.
Political Attitudes Among Young People: Instability and Provocation
In another article, Mobit authors warned against assuming a clear shift towards right-wing extremist ideology among young people. Many young people are still forming political opinions and are easily influenced by provocative narratives.
Yearly publication since 2020, "Thuringian States" is a joint effort between Mobit, youth advisors of ezra, the Institute for Democracy and Civil Society, the Center for Right-wing Extremism Research, Democracy Education, and Social Integration at the University of Jena.
The battle to counter right-wing extremism among the youth requires a balanced approach that combines intelligence and legal measures with preventive educational outreach. Despite the challenges of obtaining age-specific data and political debates, authorities in Thuringia aim to identify early signs of radicalization and act accordingly, but further efforts are needed in rural areas and schools.
- The educational system in EC countries should implement comprehensive training programs for staff, focusing on equipping them to introduce young people to socially accepted values and norms, as well as promote awareness about the dangers of right-wing extremism and populist views.
- In the discourse of politics and general-news, it's essential to address the growing issue of radicalization among young people, particularly in light of the increasing support for far-right parties like the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). Law enforcement agencies, schools, and community organizations should collaborate to ensure the protection of individuals targeted by young right-wing extremists, while fostering an environment that encourages critical thinking and active resistance against such ideologies.
