Ethnonationalist mob violence in Chemnitz demonstrates far right strength

The slogan “We are the people!” (Wir sind das Volk!) was one of the iconic protest chants of the 1989 ‘peaceful revolution’. It helped seal the fate of the crumbling regime of East Germany’s Socialist Unity Party (SED), ultimately paving the way for German reunification. Since 2015, the chant has been heard again; and again…

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German TV debate between Merkel and Schulz focuses on migration and Islam, catering to populists

German voters will choose a new chancellor on September 24 in an electoral contest pitting incumbent Christian Democrat Angela Merkel against Social Democrat Martin Schulz. After a brief surge in the polls earlier this year, Schulz’ SPD now looks set to lose the election to Merkel, trailing her CDU by about 15 percentage points in…

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Chancellor Merkel and the Debate on integration

May 14   Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) has publicly expressed support for the view that Islam is integral part of German society. Doing so, she openly disagreed with opinions voiced in the last months by the Minister of Interior Hans-Peter Friedrich (CSU) and the head of political Union parties CDU/CSU in the parliament, Volker…

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Terror Suspects Arrested in Berlin

09.09.2011 On Thursday, the police in Berlin arrested two young men (24 and 28) of Middle Eastern origin, suspected of buying chemicals for a bomb attack. The two men had been under investigation for several months and were now arrested on the suspicion that a large attack was planned. The arrest was made after one…

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“Multikulti” or Assimilation? The Question of European Identity

7 February 2011 In this opinion piece, Paul Schulmeister argues that despite the doubts raised by debates concerning the integration of foreigners in Europe, the notion of European identity does exist, and must be promoted. While on the one hand, we should not exaggerate concerning the difficulties that foreigners have had in integrating, on the…

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