REPORT 08 The Challenge Hate Crime project was financed by the European Union’s Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (PEaCE III) managed by the Special EU Programmes Body Hate Crime and Radicalisation ISBN: 978-1-909519-06-0 the German political experience and the Schellenberg Report HATE CRIME AND RADICALISATION | THE GERMAN POLITICAL EXPERIENCE and the schellenberg report Hate Crime and Radicalisation: the German political experience and the Schellenberg Report Harald Weilnböck November 2012 The Challenge Hate Crime project was financed by the European Union’s Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (PEACE III) managed by the Special EU Programmes Body Number 8 of 12 HATE CRIME AND RADICALISATION | THE GERMAN POLITICAL EXPERIENCE and the schellenberg report [email protected] Harald Weilnböck’s areas of scientific expertise (PD/ Prof., Ph.D.) are culture/ media studies, social research, qualitative psychology, psychotherapy research and interdisciplinary narratology. Harald Weilböck’s works as researcher, psychotherapist and deradicalisation practitioner in prison and community contexts. He conducted various EU research projects in this area and presently co-leads the EU Working Group ‘Firstline deradicalisation interventions/ practitioners’ within the European ‘Radicalisation Awareness Network’ (RAN, Brussels/ EC DG Home Affairs). Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these documents do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission, the Special EU Programmes Body, NIPS or NIACRO Re-use of material: Material may be re-used with acknowledgement of the source ISBN: 978-1-909519-06-0 HATE CRIME AND RADICALISATION | THE GERMAN POLITICAL EXPERIENCE and the schellenberg report Contents A Some observations on party-political discourses ...................................... 1 Party-political discourse on extremism in Germany ............................. 2 The invention of “left-wing violent extremism” a discourse .................. 4 deflecting from neo-Nazi extremism? The discourse of the “New Bourgeoisie” ............................................ 8 and its political consequences Do we need “political discourse responsibility”? ................................. 10 Comparing the Danish context Is there such a thing as an “extremist anti hate crime facilitator?.......... 11 In the shadow of political discourses that deny .................................. 14 right-wing extremism – hatred and terror Xenophobic murders and denial discourses: ...................................... 16 twins of right-wing extremism in a society? Party-political discourses are indispensable ....................................... 19 – their quality and resilience are key The example of Northern Ireland: the “Challenge Hate Crime” ............. 21 project and the EU Radicalisation Awareness Network B The Schellenberg report on right-wing extremism and violence ................. 23 Overview ............................................................................................ 23 The history and structure of the radical right ........................................... 26 History .......................................................................................... 26 Actors of the far right and extremist right (1990 – 2008) ..................... 27 Local elections ............................................................................... 28 Subcultural milieu .......................................................................... 28 Dress codes and labels .................................................................... 28 “Free comradeships” and “action alliances” ....................................... 28 as forms of social interaction a focus on Saxony Demographic structure of the voters and supporters ................................. 29 - potential right-wing extremists - crimes and acts of violence Activists and voters ........................................................................ 29 Potential right-wing extremists ......................................................... 29 Crimes and acts of violence ............................................................. 29 Political key topics – leitmotivs/topics within extremist right-wing .............. 30 arguments – enemy images - political objectives – society’s perception - to be reckoned with in any civic education setting Concepts/images of the enemy ........................................................ 30 Right-wing radicals’ objectives ......................................................... 31 Society’s perception of the radical right ............................................. 31 Socio-political environment – widespread ethnic stereotypes, .................... 31 political fears and prejudices. A constant challenge for countering hate crime and violent extremism Some preliminary observations and conclusions ................................. 32 on the current situation with right-wing extremism Shortcomings in data collection and monitoring - the current state ............ 33 of data concerning the radical right in Germany III HATE CRIME AND RADICALISATION | THE GERMAN POLITICAL EXPERIENCE and the schellenberg report Jurisdiction and law enforcement – legal strategies against ....................... 34 the radical right Basic Law and the German penal code .............................................. 34 Jurisdiction .................................................................................... 35 The recording of criminal and unconstitutional acts ............................ 35 – politically motivated crimes Further relevant legislation .............................................................. 36 Protection from discrimination .......................................................... 37 Help for victims .............................................................................. 37 Legal pushes to ban the right-wing extremist NPD .............................. 37 Removing state support from radical right-wing organizations .............. 38 Increasing penalties for hate crimes .................................................. 38 The influence of EU regulations ........................................................ 39 Importance of national legislation ..................................................... 40 Effectiveness problems for the judiciary ............................................. 40 Good practice in legislature and administration – strategic shortcomings .... 41 – proven measures in legislature – and strategic outlook Good practice in legislature and administration ................................... 41 Strategic shortcomings.................................................................... 42 Proven measures ............................................................................ 42 • Judiciary ................................................................................... 42 • Police ....................................................................................... 42 • Prison service ............................................................................ 43 Strategic outlook ................................................................................. 43 Political actors, political institutions and Federal ministries ........................ 44 in combating extremism - institutional responsibilities and programs - ministries of the interior – successes and obstacles Responsibility for federal programs ................................................... 45 Subordinate authorities ................................................................... 45 Higher-ranking state institutions ....................................................... 45 Successes and obstacles in countering right-wing extremism ................ 46 Further references on the political interaction with the radical right ............. 47 Summary: good practice, shortcomings and strategic .............................. 47 Outlook for institutional and political initiatives of Countering (right-wing) extremism – according to Schellenberg’s report Good practice ................................................................................ 47 Shortcomings ................................................................................ 47 Measures still lacking ...................................................................... 48 Program shortcomings .................................................................... 48 Basic conditions to reflect on............................................................ 48 Summary ...................................................................................... 49 Civic society – organizations and civic engagement ................................... 49 IV HATE CRIME AND RADICALISATION | THE GERMAN POLITICAL EXPERIENCE and the schellenberg report A Some observations on the importance of party-political and media discourses on issues of extremism: The example of Germany and the need to address violent extremism both on the level of social interventions and political (media) discourses. The relevance which the Challenge Hate Crime project (CHC) has for any future initiative of preventing violent extremism in Europe cannot be overestimated. The CHC project has been unique in Europe so far in approaching issues of hate crime on two crucial levels simultaneously: (i) on the level of specialized social work interventions in prison and community with offenders and at-risk young people – regarding sectarian hate crime in particular – and (ii) on the level of the public