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Germany’s ‘pinstripe Nazis’ show the temperature of the immigration debate needs to be reduced Germany’s ‘pinstripe Nazis’ show the immigration debate is overheated
(35 minutes later)
Rightwing parties are on the rise across Europe. Should we worry? Such movements have come and mostly gone for decades. They draw strength from immigrant surges and economic woes. The Pegida rallies – Germany’s “pinstripe Nazis” – now drawing thousands of marchers to German cities, are specifically anti-Muslim. But are they different from similar movements in France, Sweden, the Netherlands or Britain?Rightwing parties are on the rise across Europe. Should we worry? Such movements have come and mostly gone for decades. They draw strength from immigrant surges and economic woes. The Pegida rallies – Germany’s “pinstripe Nazis” – now drawing thousands of marchers to German cities, are specifically anti-Muslim. But are they different from similar movements in France, Sweden, the Netherlands or Britain?
Any expression of racial hatred from Germany is bound to be alarming, but every nation has its political fringe. That the rallies are well-dressed and called a “stroll” is neither here nor there. Comments made by participants might be arrestable offences in Britain, but the sentiments are familiar to fringe politics everywhere, and laws and arrests will never curb them.Any expression of racial hatred from Germany is bound to be alarming, but every nation has its political fringe. That the rallies are well-dressed and called a “stroll” is neither here nor there. Comments made by participants might be arrestable offences in Britain, but the sentiments are familiar to fringe politics everywhere, and laws and arrests will never curb them.
Germany is now the most hospitable country for the dispossessed of the wars in the middle east, and the pressure is clearly telling. With 200,000 refugees expected to have arrived this year – 80% more than last year and a third of the EU total – the pressure on its welfare and its politics is intense. In many parts of the country, the majority in the school system is now Muslim. A poll for Der Spiegel shows a third of the population believes Germany is enduring “a process of Islamisation”. Hence Pegida’s slogan, “patriotic Europeans against the Islamisation of the west”.Germany is now the most hospitable country for the dispossessed of the wars in the middle east, and the pressure is clearly telling. With 200,000 refugees expected to have arrived this year – 80% more than last year and a third of the EU total – the pressure on its welfare and its politics is intense. In many parts of the country, the majority in the school system is now Muslim. A poll for Der Spiegel shows a third of the population believes Germany is enduring “a process of Islamisation”. Hence Pegida’s slogan, “patriotic Europeans against the Islamisation of the west”.
Germany cannot meet this pressure alone. There is no way Europe can simply shut its door to desperate peoples clamouring to escape the misery enveloping much of the Muslim world – much of which western armies have contributed to. Even if politicians wanted to call a halt, borders are too permeable.Germany cannot meet this pressure alone. There is no way Europe can simply shut its door to desperate peoples clamouring to escape the misery enveloping much of the Muslim world – much of which western armies have contributed to. Even if politicians wanted to call a halt, borders are too permeable.
Hence the Dutch auction of restrictions obsessing Europe’s politicians, not least in Britain.Hence the Dutch auction of restrictions obsessing Europe’s politicians, not least in Britain.
This has to be a collective European challenge. The EU’s much-vaunted “open borders” must be governed by a continent-wide agreement on asylum and settlement. What is the point of European government if it cannot police the boat people of the Mediterranean or the “truck people” crowding into Calais?This has to be a collective European challenge. The EU’s much-vaunted “open borders” must be governed by a continent-wide agreement on asylum and settlement. What is the point of European government if it cannot police the boat people of the Mediterranean or the “truck people” crowding into Calais?
Equally, the failure of minority groups to integrate is inflammatory to both sides. The media’s hyping of every incident, such as that yesterday in Sydney, as a “threat to national security” makes matters worse. Somehow the temperature has to be reduced before the lid blows.Equally, the failure of minority groups to integrate is inflammatory to both sides. The media’s hyping of every incident, such as that yesterday in Sydney, as a “threat to national security” makes matters worse. Somehow the temperature has to be reduced before the lid blows.