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THE SUCCESS OF the anti-migrant AfD marks a turning point for Germany’s usually stable and consensus-driven politics — the rise of right-wing populists at the expense of old mainstream parties.
The accelerated splintering of the political landscape further erodes the moderate centre, sparking disarray that will make coalition building more difficult, analysts warn.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) made strong gains in three state polls yesterday in what was widely seen as a protest vote against Chancellor Angela Merkel’s open-door policy on refugees.
The AfD, whose rhetoric often echoes that of France’s Marine Le Pen and US White House hopeful Donald Trump, is now set to enter assemblies in half of German states and, if it maintains its momentum, would be elected to national parliament next year.
In the formerly communist eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt the three-year-old AfD scored a stunning 24%, forcing three other parties to scramble to form a coalition government.
The AfD’s rise “shows that Germany has caught up with all other European countries: it has finally lost its immunity against populist parties,” wrote analyst Carsten Brzeski of ING-DiBa bank, calling the trend modern Germany’s “loss of innocence”.
Die Zeit weekly said the refugee crisis has opened “a deep chasm in society”.
Hatred of foreigners, fear of being overrun and a deep mistrust of politicians and the so-called mainstream media has spread — a dangerous mix that is now finding expression in the AfD.
It judged that Sunday’s elections showed that “a section of society has withdrawn itself from the classical model of representative democracy with its rules of compromise and consensus”.
‘Enraged citizens’
The AfD was launched in 2013 as an anti-euro party but has since shifted its focus to migrants, campaigning against mosques and urging voters to have more children to avoid the need for immigration.
Some of its leaders have voiced sympathy for the Islamophobic PEGIDA movement, whose “Wutbuerger”, literally “enraged citizens”, share its deep distrust of the established parties and media, which they label a disconnected elite or power cartel.
Germany’s post-war politics have been dominated by Merkel’s conservative CDU and its Bavarian allies on the right, and the old “workers party” the Social Democrats (SPD) on the left.
Usually one of them has governed with a smaller party but, as support for both has slipped, they now share power in a “grand coalition”.
While the SPD has lost support to the Greens and far-left Linke, the CDU has captured much of the middle ground while so far fending off parties on the far-right fringes in a country where memories of Nazi dictatorship run deep.
However, “decade by decade, the German taboo of not voting for the extreme right ever again loses a bit of its force,” said Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg Bank.
That gives the AfD today an advantage over previous right-wing parties.
‘Single-issue protest party’
Schmieding however stressed that, despite its spectacular regional gains, the AfD remains “a single-issue protest party without a serious programme and a convincing leadership” which remains “light years away from any position of influence”.
“If the refugee issue recedes from the headlines and if the sheer incompetence of many AfD parliamentarians becomes ever more apparent, support for the AfD may fade fast again in a while,” he wrote.
In this case, “relative to, say, Marine Le Pen in France and Donald Trump in the US, support for anti-immigration populists in Germany would still remain fairly muted even in these potential protest votes”.
Most political analysts agree that in Germany, as in other Western democracies, traditional party loyalties have faded and labels such as left and right have grown hazy. While voter turnout has broadly declined, those who do cast their ballots often do so on single issues or to express their anger.
In Germany, “the public mood is very radicalised at the moment,” said Andreas Roedder, modern history professor at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz.
“It is polarised between morally arrogant and self-assured ‘multiculturalists’ who still favour the ‘welcoming culture’ and ignore all the difficulties associated with it, and on the other hand misanthropic, xenophobic tendencies that offer only simple, patent remedies,” said Roedder.
“What I worry about is Germany’s democratic centre that accepts that there are no simple solutions to these questions, that there is no clear right or wrong.”
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Did they expect this not to happen???
Yes they did. They called people who disagreed with their open border policy racist, which after c.20 successful years of silencing dissent they didn’t foresee this changing now. People are rapidly ceasing to care what a bunch of delusional leftists label them, they now have to deal in facts, and after c.20 years of avoiding facts they are finding the adaption a little difficult.
Some very good EU articles here. A few uploaded today.
ANTI-EU IRELAND
Why are people in the media surprised this would happen? If I am a millionaire this is great cheap labour, more rent on property portfolio’s. But if you are not rich and have to compete on an unfair playing field. Why would you be happy about this. Peter Sunderland, Bob Geledoff are rich enough to but up plenty of refugees. If there homes are full to capacity. I would slightly less issue with taxpayer’s excepting to pay for direct competition for resources.
Not only did they expect this to happen, they wanted it to happen. All these parties are controlled by the same interests, pied pipers leading people down whatever road they have planned for them. Don’t ever mistake these people as being stupid.
Actually yeah. I took a second look. Unfortunate picture.
A clearing of the decks is necessary now. A recognition that legitimate concerns do not equate to nazism. The contempt that the main stream parties, the mainstream press and the left have for the ordinary person not just in Germany, but all over Europe has been exposed and thankfully Germany is being the first to express its dissatisfaction at the polls, the rest will follow. Perhaps it’s not too late to pull Europe back from the quagmire. The borders need to close, the Syrians need to be looked after in better camps and a solution needs to be found, the afghans and Iraqis need to be sent home along with all the Africans and North Africans except those who might have something to offer Europe and not have their hands out. Islam as an entity needs to be put back in it box and we need to celebrate Europe again. The continent of the enlightenment, of the arts and architecture, of cathedrals, universities, symphonies and ballets, men and women in free and non Threatening association. Islam the religion has its place here but not its mysogny and harsh culture. A kinder gentler Islam, the Sufi kind would work in Europe. Ridding Europe of its jihadists and mysognists and its welfare scroungers needs to be on the agenda. I hope it’s not too late.
It’s frustrating to hear people dismiss worries about the mass migration. People have genuine concerns and worries. For many it’s not even to do with national identity or the old “foreigners stealing our jobs” it’s how can we support so many. Are they been properly background checked.
Also did they rip of the Nike logo?
Derek, So you’re saying all of the people who voted for AfD are idiots who are being led!? I happen to think the opposite – I think it took real bravery and brains to stand up and say NO to the current regime and their lunatic policies. The idea that the establishment somehow organised and want the likes of the AfD is crazy – the current establishment want to be able to do what they want – when they want and they don’t want any opposition to it.
Sean, But for some it is about national identity (at least that is part of it) and there is nothing wrong with that – why wouldn’t someone want to protect their own culture/ people/ identity?
mein kampf ist gebrochen
Refugee kampf you mean.
Marg, I couldn’t agree more. Embrace the middle ground people. Common sense is a rare thing on this site Marg, most of the comments are either hatred and bile from the right or bleeding idiocy from the left, so thank you.
That’s not even german. doesn’t make any sense.
I can see Germany having a tough decade or more. 1,100,000 migrants on top of an insular Turkish pop. 130,000 migrants missing. Hundreds of thousands wanting to come still. Some 70-80% of arrivals are functionally illiterate, 70% of those who take German lessons drop out. It costs €80k to teach German to 25 migrants. Ghettos and radicalization are in Berlins future in a big way.
Migrant Crisis: Two Thirds Of Arrivals Are ‘Basically Illiterate’……. http://www.breitbart.com/london/2016/03/14/migrant-crisis-two-thirds-of-arrivals-are-basically-illiterate/
How come all the doctors, engineers and highly qualified IT specialists we were told are coming are seen as illiterate…?
/sarcasm
AFAIK they’re all in Calais. Can’t move for software developers and architects in the jungle.
how does an army of migrants go missing?
Breitbart, there’s a source to take seriously when it comes to information on immigration…
Rochelle – would you say the same if it was a guardian link? Here’s the German link if you prefer: http://m.n24.de/n24/Nachrichten/Politik/d/8215406/zwei-drittel-sind–im-grunde-analphabeten-.html
Right so it’s not two thirds but rather two thirds of a subsection of non-educated Syrians according to a study by one academic that clearly isn’t considered significant since the n24 article concedes “The actual level of education who came to Germany refugees is still largely unknown”
And its going to be magically better for their regional neighbours?
@tomesit….. and 98% don’t speak English, let alone German,Danish or Swedish!! add to the agreement with Turkey “we” will send two plane loads back to Turkey give them a few billion € and in return “we” will fly them to the EU along with probably 10 million (visa free ) Muslim Turks (yes! I know there are 70 odd million but hopefully they won’t all want to come) THE LOONS HAVE FINALLY TAKEN OVER THE ASYLUM!
The swing to the right will continue across Europe as long as the political classes refuse to enforce European ideals and protect its borders and its citizens.
You can’t write off the swing to the left in countries like Greece, Portugal or Spain either. Dare I say even Ireland with SF, smaller left alliances and various independents. Even FF jumped on the bandwagon somewhat.
The European project is a complete failure. The ironic thing about it was that with increased economic integration, it was supposed to stop the emergence of far right and far left parties. What it has done however, is facilitated in increased nationalism.
Andrew – IMO those countries swung that way due to austerity measures. Ppl are looking for a politician that has their back. Ireland as of yet doesn’t have a eu-skeptic party, but I agree the EU is a failure. I would like to see the UK leave and us to follow.
Well SF has a very ambiguous position on Europe especially in the north in how they are campaigning to stay in Europe even though a Brexit would surely see the union breaking up.
Integrity Ireland are a far right party against the EU but their influence would be minimal and akin to that of the Irish communist party.
And yes they are anti austerity parties but they are all parties that promise drastic change on many fronts. Here in Ireland we are very conservative in how we conduct politics. Very much a tribal approach were change is seen in a negative light. This is facilitated by the media and the church who still wields huge power whether people like to Believe it or not.
I agree with you in theory in Leaving the EU but in practise I can’t see how we would function without it. We are in too deep and depend on its institutions too much.
Countries where immigration is a big issue vote for right-wing populists, and countries where austerity is a big issue vote for left-wing populists. Some countries vote for both. Some countries like Ireland and Italy vote for populists who might not be characterized as either left or right. It’s part of the same phenomenon – the centrist post-war consensus in Europe is being rejected.
Thanks so much Merkel for flooding Germany and Europe with millions of mostly young Muslim males, a non-insignificant minority of whom are either potential terrorists or terrorist sympathisers, and of whom the German government has deemed 85% to be “unemployable” implying the vast majority are destined to live a lifetime of welfare in free accommodation all provided at taxpayer expense. Added to which, many of these countries happen to be some of the most backward on the planet culturally, as evidenced by the mass assaults on German women on New Years Eve.
Maybe we should have a Merkel appreciation day across Europe!
We should since she’s saved over a million from a war torn country, many of whom would be dead already had she not shown great selflessness and leadership. People may be angry and retaliating at the moment but when most sit down and consider the situation they’d rather live under a leadership which shows compassion to their fellow people despite the challenges than one which turns their back on injustices outside their own borders.
In time the world and Germany will appreciate what Merkel has done.
Roch – you speak as if this was the only solution. It wasnt . it was an ill-thought-out move which has increased demands on the welfare state, weakened security and stifled social cohesion. Swathes of the 1.1M are not from Syria et al. They have also travelled through multiple safe havens.
Rochelle you are utterly wrong, foolish, and childishly nieve. Has anyone ever said that to your face directly?
Germany has destroyed itself, it’s culture, its cities, its life. Many are not genuinely fleeing war, they are simply economic migrants. Even for the genuine refugees, why should they get to live a lifetime of welfare at taxpayer expense in Germany, just because there’s conflict in their country? I am not given a free apartment by the government, but i’m paying for their free apartment! It’s a con. There are 200 countries in the world, why would it be Germany’s burden? Wake up.
Cal, you believe Syria is perfectly habitable right now?
It’s like i’m talking to a nieve 9 year old. The choice is not death or Germany. There are 200 countries in the world. There are perfectly safe UN refugee camps in the Middle East.
I’d love to know what war the Pakistanis, Morrocans, Senegalese etc were fleeing when they arrived in Germany last year.
@rochelle, the German billions would be better spent making the refugee camps places from where the migrants wouldn’t want to leave. The Syrians should stay in their own area and be looked after there till they can go home. Why displace millions of people most of whom will never be happy, will never be employable and will never be integrated. Why? It makes no sense to inflict Europe with people from an incompatible and an oppositional culture. This social engineering experiment makes no sense unless there are unseen hands at play here.
Don’t be thick Rochelle , most are not from Syria and are fleeing towards an easy life thanks to the European taxpayer , why not hang out at Cologne Cathedral and report back on how you get on
great words.
I don’t feel like we’ve destroyed anything in our country?! Most refugees aren’t even allowed to stay, and seriously, not much has changed so far.
Bahahaha…this woman thinks the migrants are going to return to their third world country. How adorable.
I heard a news report last week on the crisis, a top EU official said “This is one of the greatest humanitarian crisis Europe ever witnessed and Europe are causing it over lack of action” I would think Germany caused it in Particular Merkal and her open boarder policy which encouraged tens of tousands more people to risk their lives crossing the Med.
Apologies for spelling errors, damn prediction text.
About time Germany opened there eyes
About time you learned to spell.
“It is” about time you learned “how” to construct a sentence.
Both variants are permitted, learned to spell, learned how to spell. Go learn.
Great news. Merkel is a traitor and it’s about time the German people gave her the finger.
Live that the journal calls them right wing populists in such a dismissive way. The journal’s glaring SJW bias at it again.
The reality is simple but one the so called ‘progressive’ Left refuse to admit as they are so wrapped up in their own echo chambers of ideological Marxism & ‘the West is evil’ narratives anyone to the right of them is a traitor, a racist, a right winger. At this stage a traditional liberal Leftist civil rights advocate is now bundled in with neo Nazis. Just ask Nick Lowles http://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/hope-not-hate-chief-executive-nick-lowles-no-platformed-by-nus-for-being-islamophobic-a6881831.html
What the German people want is not to wipe out refugees nor to turn all of them away. They want a rational critical analysis of those people entering their country on a case by case basis for the safety of their country, its native people and those of all races who are already living there, of all races and religions, in relative peace. They want this done without interference of political correctness and corruption, without being shouted down as Nazis for engaging in rational thought and free speech and without the media being silenced and controlled by Marxists Leftists. If you have a problem with that you are the problem, not those being pushed from the liberal Left & centre into the arms of the right wing, not the refugees, not the European peoples. The regressive Left are the problem.
The greatest promoters of fascism in Europe are the regressive Left, the SJW’s, the feminists, the cultural Marxists. They are the ones producing ammunition which right wing fascism needs to grow. They are the carcinogens to the right wing cancer. If the Left continue to manipulate, ignore and silence the majority who are liberal leftists and conservative centrists there will be an explosion of right wing support and it will be innocent refugees fleeing war who will ultimately suffer even more. Thats reality. Deal with it.
The language in this article is disgraceful. I thought journalists were ment to be objective? Words like “far right” “populist” “Islamophobia” “far right” used as if they were fact and not opinion. I used to think suspension of the media was for the crack pot conspiracy theorests but I don’t trust anything they say anymore
Great video on the kind of journalism on display here. Its core message is, if you are not being objective, then you are not a journalist, you are an activist. We are short on journalists: https://youtu.be/br1QnBaPYmI
Scarr, do you champion Breitbart as an example of this objective and true journalism?
“Islamophobia” – A word created by Fascists, and used by Cowards to manipulate Morons.
Roch – no, it has its agenda and can sensationalize on occasion, but that is more with the writer than the organ. Delingpole for example, is a prat. That said, it doesn’t make them wrong on 100% of issues 100% of the time. They are a source of info that is oddly lacking in the Irish media.
Yellow Journalism sums it up nicely I think.
I us ad vellum. Well said.
Incredibly condescending Rochelle. Should we all just rely on the one media outlet for information then? Mainstream media is so far left that in order to form a balanced opinion you must read the right wing bs as well.
“The greatest promoters of fascism in Europe are the regressive Left, the SJW’s, the feminists, the cultural Marxists.”
This bit i agree with. Universities are a breeding ground for this sort of thought. Any dissent is simply not tolerated. Nobel prize winners have their careers destroyed by feminists for comments intended as British ‘wit’.
Mizzou getting hit where it hurts because of their capitulation to cry-bullies: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/mizzou-sees-drop-in-admissions-following-protests/article/2585573
Cal, which university did you attend where you found intolerance to your views? Presumably you’re speaking from personal experience and not making sweeping judgments on the educated youth.
Indoctrinated youth more like. Foolish idiocy of youth. And i’m not even that old, just a lot smarter than you Rochelle.
Western Washington University 07/03/16: “Activists are demanding the creation of a new college dedicated to social justice activism, a student committee to police offensive speech, and culturally segregated living arrangements at the school” http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/03/07/the-college-that-wants-to-ban-history.html There is a new story like this coming out of American colleges every week and the UCD 200 story is an early indicator that Irish universities will go down the same route.
Not smart enough to answer the question apparently, I’ll ask again. Which University did you attend where you experienced this intolerant, indoctrinated SJW experience?
Rochelle, there is a whole world of sources of knowledge between personal experience and ‘making sweeping judgments’. That world is where most of human knowledge exists. The idea that a person may only speak of things that they personally have experienced is the logical conclusion of extreme subjectivism. It’s a wholesale rejection of rationality and ultimately makes peaceful human social existence impossible. That phenomenon is the source of what Cal is pointing to.
Go find a video on youtube showing Maryam Namazie, an ex-Muslim, being harassed by members of the Islamist society while speaking at Goldsmith’s university in the UK. She had been no-platformed by student societies there despite clearly not being fascist. That is what’s happening in universities in the English-speaking world right now and there is huge concern and debate about it in academia and beyond.
Your insistence that only knowledge gained through personal experience is valid is part of the same problem. It’s an authoritarian, anti-intellectual and anti-democratic position.
People are sick of the political elite dictating in all EU countries. If they don’t change attitude, and look after their own people, there is trouble ahead.time to cop on.
Mad Mama Merkel will go down in infamy.
Turning point? More of a wake up call for Angela’s ‘access all areas’ policy, I’d say? No problem with legit refugees but chancers from every tom, dick and harry 3rd. world country, no feckin’ way. We’ve got enough home grown social cases already, thanks very much.
The whole of Europe seems sick of its politicians and how it’s run
I love Germany and the German people,they have put up with massive Islamic immigration for far too long,they have been more than tolerant but what happened on new years eve is the straw that broke the camel’s back
Nows the time for Germany to get smart and send all those “Syrian” economic migrants back to Turkey their first country of “Refuge”…
When Islam takes over Europe it will be a wastland. Most of our infrastructure well be destroyed. List of industry’s that will disappear. Fashion. Cosmetics. Pork related industry. Any dog related business. All alcohol business. The list is just to great to print. But just ask your self .when did you ever see a item with MADE IN MIDDLE FAST. stamped on it
You really should get a life. Do you actually believe all that crap.
The photo is picked deliberately to draw a comparison with the Nazi straight-arm salute.
Pop a little moustache on her and she’s a ringer for someone
Mass migration has made it almost impossible for the unskilled westerners to fund employment. These days fruit pickers tend to be migrants.
Find I mean not fund
…. and they all look so sane.
AfD————- Danke Schoen!
Merkel———-Auf Wiedersehen!
Obama——–Your aufen next!
“Islamophobic” is a misleading term. It is bandied around as a substitute for engagement on very real concerns about Islam and its a pity to see it used by a journalist. If, instead, people are racist or anti-foreigner then use those terms instead. Otherwise it’s a soft, lazy and incorrect cliché.
No fan of Merkel and her policies but if the Germans go down that road again and it goes wrong like the Nazi party last time there should be serious consiquences for the country.
This my first ever “OMG”.
And if they do nothing it will be all sunshine and rainbows? The quicker the migrant disaster is stopped the less extreme the right wing will become. The AfD growing might make Merkel or at least her colleagues rethink their position on migration because like politicians here above all else they are terrified of losing their place on the gravy train.
Not sunshine and rainbows but bringing back in a fare right party should be band for that country after what they did to Europe twice in the last century! OMG you did not just got here (snap fingers) haha
George Orwell must must have seen our future
An example of when you push people too far and you get the reaction. Just like the right wing FF FG are now experiencing. Now here they are stymied as the you take a go then I’ll have a turn right wing politics is about to die.
Here we go again!
Lol
So despite the attention grabbing headline the article concedes that the CDU/CSU remains the largest and most influential political force in Germany and in effect Dr Merkel is still the most important politician in Europe.
If she wants to make a career in right wing German politics I’d recommend a change of hair style.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1018054114916470&id=846596408728909 Luke Ming flanagan asking questions that won’t be answered
Another racist party making gains by spreading fear among the german people. Some of the comments on this story are disgraceful. The usual uneducated facist knuckledragers dont represent the majority of irish people who support these inocent asylum seekers. No anti immigration party will ever be welcome on this island.
^^^^ Talks about “fascists” and in the very next sentence states that a party with a differing opinion will never be welcomed…….where do you start? :)
@Stephen Harney I usually abhor the snobbery of grammar nazis but since you’re busily calling other people uneducated I’ll make an exception for you:
fascist not facist
knuckledragger not knuckledrager
innocent not inocent
You wouldn’t recognize actual fascism if it came up and bit you. Educate yourself.
Watch and see Stephen, the libtards will be screaming for security and removal off these hoards when you PC Liberals see the bare face brutality of Islam…
People who are anti ecomonic immigrant are not uneducated they are concerned taxpayers that do not want their money used for these people and dont want this type of “society” imposing its views and ways on us…
We had enough of the Catholic church why do we want this lot now..
Not our problem and never has been..
And isn’t your party the bovver boot face of a thousand welcomes. You’re only upset that the fascists were right wing cos you have modelled everything your party stands for on them.
Couldn’t be admiring a right wing party now could we, left whinger
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/652411/Horror-6-year-old-boy-raped-asylum-seeker-centre-Sweden You are an uneducated fascist knuckledragger if you don’t want this to happen in your country according to Stephen. Or this http://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/world-economy/cologne-is-every-day-europes-rape-epidemic/news-story/e2e618e17ad4400b5ed65045e65e141d
@stephen what an ass! So no party with which you disagree will ever be welcome on this island. Or WHAT?
Innocent asylum seekers ? Do you know them all personally ?
Some would say SF are terrorist fascist anti fascist, child abuse cover up merchants.
Stephen you are the definition of irony. You believe everything that the biased media spoon feeds you like a good boy and think the people who have done their own research and formed their own opinions are idiots.
So what research did you do Gary? I’d be interested to know it….
You should be banned for that comment
Because the last time Germany had a far right party things went swimmingly….
Baaaah baaaaah mr sheep. You read the words far right and you assume this is the far right. Its not. Its critical thinking leftists, its centrists, its the right. Progressives try to spin this sort of backlash as a lurch to the right but it’s really not. It’s a reaction to the awful policies of progressives.
Is that a new salute Frau Petry has demonstrated there ?
sieg heil how sad that Germany once again returns to the path of right wing culture. Beginning to think the Brits might be right to exit the Euro lands.
So currently there are 12 red thumbs against my comment. Any of those red thumbs brave enough to give a reason?
You choose label it so, I see it as a people concerned for their country and culture. This policy of immigration without end is crazy beyond words.
Disgusting fascists and racialists will have a few populist years and will fade away again. Interesting that they are getting support in the East which has relatively little immigration.
Yes Richard they are just a bunch of fascists and racists, nothing to do with the mass rapes, increase in crime or spending billions of taxpayer money importing people who will never integrate or contribute to society but who will actively try to impose their repressive, misogynistic violent culture on others. God regressives arguments are boring it always boils down to one or two labels being thrown around and a complete denial of reality.
Well pat after reading your last comment its pretty clear your a racist what ever about the people we might be “importing”
Where’s our 5,000?
When you read all the above it really makes you depressed. Lets look at this world and we see that we all the same people. In every society there are good and bad. Some people are now waiting for a Muslim to spit on the sidewalk to condemn millions of honest Muslims who get on with their lives and only want the best for their families and friends. I know I live among them for part of the year and I am better treated than when I live in Ireland. If America didn’t cause all these countries there to hate them the world would be a quieter place but when bombs are dropping on you and your children day after day you tend to get a bit up tight.
We Irish travel the world and we are liked and respected because we give so much to the people we meet. We didn’t invade anybody. We didn’t kill anybody. If Europeans are torn apart it won’t be immigrants that do it but ourselves.
It’s more than a little rude to claim that people are all the same. Different cultures do exist and they involve different beliefs. Here’s what many Pakistani muslims believe:
88% of Pakistanis say a wife must always obey her husband
Only 26% think a wife should have the right to divorce her husband
89% want sharia to be the official law of Pakistan
Of those 89% support stoning for adultery
76% support the death penalty for leaving Islam
Only 45% say honour killings are never justified
Those people genuinely believe the above is what’s ‘good’. They believe western equality is ‘bad’ – that it leads to immorality, broken families, and is against the laws of god and nature– similar in some ways to a strict catholic viewpoint. So when you say they only want the best for their family and friends, that there are good and bad people everywhere, what you’re overlooking is that humans disagree about how good, bad and best are defined. They always have and they always will.
Of course recognizing our common humanity is important. But ignoring our relevant differences is actually a form of not recognizing our common humanity because variety is as much a feature of humanity as uniformity.
Beyond that, what you’re overlooking is that this type of migration does not reproduce a representative cross-section of the source country’s society in the host country. The people who leave are self-selected as those best able to do so. Those who are most able, financially, physically or in some other way, to pay smugglers, cross continents and oceans are generally the most privileged within a society (below the level of the very wealthy). The most privileged in society are usually also the most oppressive group.
That’s why it was hundreds of young men from north Africa who mass sexually assaulted women on NYE in several European cities. Such men are privileged within their own societies – they’re the people who engage in the kind of misogyny that is more serious and more extensive in north Africa than it is in Germany. Because they hold beliefs similar to those outlined above for Pakistan. For the same reason they have vastly more freedom to travel alone to Europe than, say, women in those societies do.
So Europeans get to share streets with the most privileged, entitled and oppressive groups from such societies while those they had been oppressing at home are still stuck at home. Europe’s asylum system is a survival of the fittest one and it’s completely immoral. Those voting AfD may not see it in those terms but their observation of what’s happening around them is not in fact inaccurate.
have your say