W Germany has a fresh kind of interior threat. This time, not from “right” extremism or Islamist cells, but from the left end of the political scene. Militant representatives of utmost leftist movements, calling themselves "autonoms", increasingly scope for confrontational and violent tactics aimed at symbols of wealth and political and economical elites.
A safety alert was raised after reports of planned and already implemented attacks on exclusive residential areas specified as Grunewald in Berlin. What was considered the rhetoric of marginal groups a fewer years ago, present turns into real operational activities that hit social tissue and public order.
Left-wing extremism in Germany has a long history, dating back to the 1970s and 1980s, erstwhile the Rote Armee Fraktion (RAF) operated, a terrorist organization liable for kidnapping, bombings and assassinations of representatives of the establishment. Although the RAF was disbanded, and its members either arrested or died, its ideological spirit never completely disappeared. Modern autonomous environments proceed the communicative of the fight against capitalism, social inequality and, as they claim, the oppressive state of law. For many of them, rich neighborhoods are not only a symbol of social injustice, but besides a physical mark to be attacked to trigger a social response.
Grunewald, a Berlin vicinity full of luxury villas, embassies and residences belonging to politicians, corporate directors and celebrities, was targeted by these extremist groups. Although the details of the attacks were not made public, the fact that they were carried out alone was adequate to trigger the activities of the Constitutional Protection Office. For the service, it's a signal that rhetoric has moved into the operation phase. interior reports emphasise that the radicalisation of young left-wing members is faster than expected. This is facilitated by social media, closed communication groups and a sense of impunity, which is peculiarly increasing in urban environments.
In German public opinion, left-wing extremism has been marginalized for years. The main enemy of society was neo-Nazism, racist movements and right-wing agitators. The left was considered to be a number defender, a force fighting for social rights alternatively than a possible origin of violence. However, this perception has changed erstwhile in fresh years car arsons belonging to officers have occurred, attacks on police stations, physical assaults on politicians recognized as representatives of the system, and sabotage of urban infrastructure. any independent and conservative media warned that tolerating symbolic force in the name of the fight for social justice could lead to its escalation in the physical dimension. The events of Grunewald seem to confirm these concerns.
The motivation of extremists seems simple and dangerous. In their narratives, the rich are not only privileged – they are enemies of the people, culprits of all social pathologies. Their residences are not only a place of residence, but besides symbols of oppression. The attacks on them are to execute a performance function – show that inequality has its price and that elites cannot feel safe in their luxury enclaves. force thus becomes a means of political communication, a violent form of manifesto.
Such an attitude carries serious dangers. Firstly, it undermines public assurance in the state as a safety guarantor. If the elite can't feel safe, what about the average citizen? Secondly, it opens the way to a dangerous precedent: normalisation of force as a means of expressing social discontent. Thirdly, it provokes a feedback consequence – both from the services and right-wing environments, which can usage the situation to strengthen their own narratives of danger from the left. In the end, the most common space suffers – public debate, social trust and a sense of stability.
The consequence of the German state must be balanced. On the 1 hand, a decisive operational consequence is needed – recognition and neutralisation of bomb planning cells, reflection of extremist environments, increased presence of services for possible targets of attacks. On the another hand, it is essential to realize the sources of radicalisation. The advanced cost of living, the housing crisis, the increasing sense of injustice – all this creates susceptible ground for the ideology preaching rebellion and vengeance. The fight against extremism must not be limited to police intervention. It must go hand in hand with social policy, which gives young people alternatives to radicalism.
The function of the media is besides important. A message, which, on the 1 hand, alerts about danger and, on the another hand, sensationally exposes extremist actions, can lead to the other effect – inspiration, and even a sense of affluence among possible followers. It takes liable journalism that does not ignore the problem, but does not make it a spectacle. Left-wing extremism should not be trivialized or demonized – it should be analysed and explained in the context of wider social processes.
W Germany already has legal and organization instruments to monitor extremist movements. The national Office for the Protection of the Constitution has been observing the environments of both the far right and the left for years. The problem, however, is frequently the difficulty in contrasting extremist actions to those of a criminal nature. This boundary can be blurred, especially erstwhile force is justified as a form of political opposition. That is why it is essential to establish clear criteria that will let us to respond without violating civilian liberties.
The attacks on rich districts are not just vandalism – it is simply a informing that social tensions scope boiling levels. erstwhile young people halt believing in the anticipation of change through protest, they choose the way of confrontation. erstwhile they do not see prospects, they scope for violence. The answer to this phenomenon cannot only be repressive. It must besides be structural – through education, support, participation and dialogue. If you don't understand, another attack can only be a substance of time. And then not only will another villa in the luxury territory suffer, but the full system, which for years guaranteed the Germans comparative stableness and social peace.
