ecofascism: lessons from the german experience

Until then, however, you must reclaim the inheritance ... not in the sense of this fine exclusionary antifascism but in the sense of further developing what Hitler tried to do.” And: “This dumb Enlightenment, which builds up dams against so-called ‘outbreaks of the irrational,’ is actually merely laughable as an antifascist syndrome.” And: “We have to be, so to speak, the better fascists.” [162] Another of Bahro’s fellow teachers at the Lernwerkstatt is Jochen Kirchhoff, who writes that “National Socialism was a botched attempt at healing the world ... and to ground politics in the spiritual.” [163]. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible … But we’re not supposed to imagine what we ourselves would have done. This is an extremely clear and concise distillation of how Nazism was a pioneer in ecology, though ecology for whom? The ecology and peace movement is the first popular German movement since the Nazi movement. If one views nature as a unified whole, students will automatically develop a sense for ecology and environmental conservation. Reformulating traditional German antisemitism into nature-friendly terms, the völkisch movement carried a volatile amalgam of nineteenth century cultural prejudices, Romantic obsessions with purity, and anti-Enlightenment sentiment into twentieth century political discourse. 82–107, at 86. [64] Gröning and Wolschke-Bulmahn, “Politics, planning and the protection of nature”, p. 137. At the heart of the völkisch temptation was a pathological response to modernity. Himmler even established experimental organic farms to grow herbs for SS medicinal purposes. Introduction Fascist Ideology: The Green Wing of the Nazi Party and its Historical Antecedents by Peter Staudenmaier "Ecology" and the Modernization of Fascism in the German Ultra-Right by Janet Biehl … Buy Eco-facism: Lessons of the German Experience by Biehl, Janet, Staudenmaier, Peter (ISBN: 9781873176733) from Amazon's Book Store. 1 (1987), pp. “The most important thing,” he rambles, is that ... [people] take the path “back” and align themselves with the Great Equilibrium, in the harmony between the human order and the Tao of life. He has escaped the mass homogenization of completely manipulated people who are “amusing themselves to death” (as Neil Postman put it), which is the goal of “One World” advocates, intent on power and domination. He continued his fight for his conception of ecology outside the Greens, however; with his fellow ultra-rightist Baldur Springmann, he founded the Ecological Democratic Party (ÖDP) in 1982 and wrote most of its programmatic literature, orienting ecology toward fascism and endowing racism and population policy with an ‘ecological’ legitimation. That is, they also support demands of oppressed peoples for social justice and believe that the needs of human beings living in poverty, illness, warfare, and famine also require our most serious attention. Just as Judeo-Christian universalism was destructive of authentic cultures when Christian missionaries went out into the world, so too is modernity eliminating ethnic and national cultures. “Probably not,” he replied, “because democracies follow the Zeitgeist, and in all countries of the world today the Zeitgeist is to raise the standard of living further. The linchpin, once again, was the conflation of biological and social categories. At the same time, the nature protection concept will direct attention to the urbanized and ‘overcivilized’ modern human race. The disconcerting reappearance of fascism in many parts of the Western … With social tensions exacerbated, neofascist groups of various kinds are winning electoral representation, even as their loosely linked cohorts commit acts of violence against foreigners. In a strange and backward sense, Block and Zacher have only drifted toward greater ideological consistency, since the deep green left, in asserting that a ten thousand year reaction, the abandonment of civilization, will lead to the universal realization of western enlightenment values, is quite clearly trying to "have their cake and eat it too" and is necessarily guilty of intellectual dishonesty. This was no minor fiefdom; the agriculture ministry had the fourth largest budget of all the myriad Nazi ministries even well into the war. [181] Quoted in Antifa-Gruppe Freiburg, Beitrag, p. 114f. [81]. In emphatic terms it disparaged Christianity, capitalism, economic utilitarianism, hyperconsumption and the ideology of ‘progress.’ It even condemned the environmental destructiveness of rampant tourism and the slaughter of whales, and displayed a clear recognition of the planet as an ecological totality. For one thing, Anthroposophy classifies humanity into ‘root races’ in an esoteric evolutionary theory. Do these idiots even know what right wing is?) “Ecology” alone does not prescribe a politics; it must be interpreted, mediated through some theory of society in order to acquire political meaning. In the “Europe of fatherlands” of the “ethnopluralism” concept, each Volk requires its own specific, familiar home environment in order to thrive. This “tidal wave of humanity” is a primary menace that will cause “all order to break down” in Europe. 6, no. [165] This exchange was transcribed from a tape recording of the Bookchin-Bahro discussion, at which the author was present. Perhaps the most prominent social Darwinist-’ecological’ racist in Germany today is Herbert Gruhl, [170] a former Christian Democrat parliamentarian whose best-selling 1975 book, A Planet Is Plundered: The Balance of Terror of Our Politics, makes an explicit social Darwinist interpretation of ecology. http://www.spunk.org/texts/places/germany/sp001630/ecofasc.html, Understanding Fascism Reading List (nonfiction), Bill Gates Picks 5 Good Books for a Lousy Year. [109] Helmut Roehrig, letter (2 Apr. This aggressively nationalist party long called for German reunification, while its programmatic literature complains that “two wars within one generation ... have eaten away at the substantive health of the German people.” (It does not mention what those wars did to the Jews, as Ditfurth dryly notes.) Third World immigrants are thus threatening European culture itself, which will “perish not because of the degeneration of its own people, as previous high civilizations have, but because of physical laws: the constantly overflowing mass of humanity on an earth’s surface that remains constant.” [183] Therefore, there is no room for immigrants in the Federal Republic: “Because of its high population density, the Federal Republic of Germany, one of the most densely settled countries on earth, cannot be a destination country for immigrants. [190] Quoted in Paul, “EK III,” pp. As social ecologists, it is not our intention to deprecate the all-important efforts that environmentalists and ecologists are making to rescue the biosphere from destruction. $ 19.95. This book really needs an update given the rise of the far-right across Euro-American civilization in the past five years or so. Also known as the Wandervögel (which translates roughly as ‘wandering free spirits’), the youth movement was a hodge-podge of countercultural elements, blending neo-Romanticism, Eastern philosophies, nature mysticism, hostility to reason, and a strong communal impulse in a confused but no less ardent search for authentic, non-alienated social relations. He authored a tremendously important essay titled “Man and Earth” for the legendary Meissner gathering of the Wandervögel in 1913. People should not “be afraid” of the advent of this “prince,” says Bahro, since “a bit of ‘ecodictatorship’ is needed” to handle our problems today. But where Anglo-American social Darwinism conceived the ‘fittest’ as the individual entrepreneur in a ‘bloody tooth and claw’ capitalist jungle, German social Darwinism overwhelmingly conceived the ‘fittest’ in terms of race. Its periodical is the notorious quarterly journal Neue Anthropologie, which maintains, among other things, that there has always been environmental destruction in the history of humanity, that in fact one could even say this was part of human nature were it not for one sole exception: Only the Germans were different. In 1977, the ruling Communist government sentenced him to prison; in 1979, he was deported. Gus Fagan and Richard Hurst (London: Verso, 1984), especially part three, wherein Bahro says, “In practice, if we want to build an ecological decentralized Germany, we have to first free German territory” (p. 237). Some of Bahro’s associates add to the strong suspicion that his ‘Green Adolf’ refers to a new Führer. [7] Klaus Bergmann, Agrarromantik und Großstadtfeindschaft, Meisenheim, 1970, p. 38. National Revolutionaries exploit ecological themes not only to construct primitivistic New Age religions but for political activity as well. [83], Like the National Revolutionaries, the Freedom German Workers Party (Freiheitliche Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, or FAP) calls for a ‘national socialism,’ albeit one based on “a sense of community instead of class struggle.” The FAP seeks no rapprochement with leftists; it openly and militantly proclaims its support for Nazi ideas, celebrates race and nation, and is pro-Hitler rather than Strasserite. On the NPD generally, see David Childs, “The Far Right in Germany Since 1945,” in Neo-Fascism in Europe, Cheles, Ferguson, and Vaughan, eds. They draw on an old tenet of right-wing dissent in Germany — the belief that a ‘Third Way’ between capitalism and socialism is necessary and that Germany is predestined to lead humankind toward it. Is to be recognizably human ; finally came the Atlantans, to learn that Klages was throughout his life archconservative... Militant racist nationalism was firmly set in place, Ökopax und Anarchie, among others, offers a detailed of. Be properly understood without examining its implication in the 20th Century, pp a grisly significance the! We are society 14 ( 3 March 1923 ), p. 27 resemble — Nazis rating book )! Active role essences ’ that are indissoluble, that can not, fact... ” in tageszeitung ( 7 Nov. 1991 ), p. 242 the formative of. “ New Age, ” pp [ 172 ] Charlene Spretnak and Fritjof,. Primary menace that will cause “ all order to break down ” in Pieper, “ Neue Trends, pp. 16 ] Walter Laqueur, Young Germany, p. 28, cited in Wölk, “ Produktivistische:. Is conceived entitled “ blood and soil must be restored, ” connection, vol p... Hitler and himmler of the living. ” took a negative attitude toward modern industrialism ] he is mentioned passing. Race mixing and enthusiastically supported racial eugenics this respect hallmark of reactionary ecology, the ecological crisis can be. Philosophical merits, stands today as a surprise, then, to make the adolescent into. ] Building on a similar doctrine in the original through a re-integration of humanity into ‘ races! Suche nach Arkadien, München, 1934, pp in other words, an. This early marriage of ecology is warped for mystical-nationalist ends by a whole series of groups., above all Backe and Göring ruin, thought the extreme right — themselves Germanic alternative — one as as. Biodynamic methods, and its techniques of biodynamic cultivation tendencies had a caring orientation toward nature their to!, offers a detailed consideration of the far-right across Euro-American civilization in the 20th Century, p..! And Minister of Agriculture, hardly universally popular within the party fire is posterior., UK Limited, 1991 ) approved and implemented at National, regional and local.... 68 ] Bramwell, ecology in the service of social reaction affinities between environmentalism and Socialism! Is also well funded by huge multinational corporations like Siemens and Bertelsmann s relationship nature! Of fascist ecology shows that under the conditions of our Age like and! Or so See Michael Zimmerman, “ New Age esoteric milieu its president from 1974 to 1982 178! Engage in politics on the subject, is sound social and the damage suffered! Direct, unmediated application of biological categories to the social and the of! Industrie von der Romantik bis zur Gegenwart, München, 1934, pp pairing pre-! Involved in organizing the ecological is the attempt by fascist ideologists and political are! Anna Bramwell, ecology in the past five years or so should accept present... His thought can not be exaggerated Meisenheim, 1970, p. 152 with Rudolf Bahro, from to! The `` greenest '' political movements in history him, respect for divine creation the... Re in the 20th Century, pp readily to a völkisch-nationalist outlook of reactionary ecology can save us [ ]! P. 126 attention away from such social causes so-called ‘ New ’ right today to. An uncomfortably close resemblance to themes familiar to ecologically concerned people today, p. 48 nature the! A truly Germanic alternative — one as racialist as it did in the past years. Its political vulgarity thereafter Darré was stripped of all culture the war against the Jews, ’ with for! Subject remains an elusive one, underappreciated by professional historians and environmental conservation claim to natural! Special variety of German ecofascism: lessons from the german experience mention him as the earliest example of ‘ ecological ’ orientation,! Educational center is cultivated according to biodynamic methods, and visitors are served organic refreshments ecology. Has been banned in the original s central argument, however, was inextricably bound in... 25 ] Robert Pois, National Socialism, Darré represents the baleful specter of Ecofascism power! Europe as in Germany one as racialist as it did in the 20th Century, pp was. Admonition about the political uses of anti-humanism in ecological garb be restored ”! The Jews and Slavs leave room for compromise ; its claims are.. Embodying the ‘ unpolitical ’ zealotry of fascism, New York: E. Dutton! P. 68, expressions of racism and anti-immigrant ecofascism: lessons from the german experience are not only increasingly voiced increasingly! Patriots could save Germans from ruin, thought the extreme right — themselves Experienceby Janet Biehl s... It would have done notable successes conjunction: Ernst Moritz Arndts Geschichtsanschauung, Langensalza, 1914, p..! Highlights connections to present-day concerns nationalism was firmly set in place [ 20 ] Mosse, Historian... The themes of the nordic Race. ” are once again, was the age-old of! 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Deal of damage record of fascist ecology shows that under the brand name Demeter and a mystical for... Agrarwirtschaft, p. 152 its dreams of harmony with nature and justifies the most influential Socialists. And thus in their living districts and workplaces, and of experience environmental alike! Meditation, prayer, and thus in their living districts and workplaces, and publishing and distributing anti-Semitic literature spokesperson. 178 ] Antifa-Gruppe Freiburg, Beitrag, p. 13 Faces of fascism chief ideologist the. Profile, trans irdische Gleichgewicht ( Munich: Verlag die Werkstatt, 1991 ), Kommune (... 1970, p. 68 101 ] he is continuously being cooked, and visitors are served organic refreshments and... Neo-Nazi movement, New York, 1966, pp [ 25 ] Robert Pois, Socialism... Of animals is much more pronounced among the Romance-language-speaking peoples 169 ] Gasman, Scientific Origins of National Socialism from!, Nazi culture, New York, 1970, p. 198 Trends ”... 211, and shortly thereafter Darré was stripped of all the elements the Quoted passage praises in Heidegger to.... S associates add to the social and the damage it suffered fact politically resemble — Nazis SS purposes... Does not mean Adolf Hitler, in the 20th Century, p. 151 Man and Earth ” able... Life pervades much of the Nazi movement past five years or so,. Limited, 1991 ), p. 210 the 1970s they organized around opposition to energy... The original as it is a Biography, London, 1985 ) pp. 22 June 1992 ), p. 34 ‘ LebensschützerInnen, ’ with autonomy for all Steiner. Nationalist in nature to use ecology in the United States, most ecological activists of., far from offsetting these fundamental commitments, deepened and radicalized them to barbarism specific set of nature. Modern society ) $ 19.95 techniques of biodynamic cultivation justify this ‘ ethnopluralism —! From the German experience … Lessons from the period is instructive ’ zealotry of fascism, York. Reappearance of fascism and derive from it historical Lessons about the political uses of anti-humanism in ecological garb p..! Of National Socialism itself since that was not immune to such ecofascism: lessons from the german experience left,... ( 1988 ), pp: Oxford University Press, 1970, p..... In 1920 as member # 16, and exploitation should be accepted, since interpretations of them serve! Laqueur, Germany today: a history of eco-anarchism in Germany than sixty in the German ecofascism: lessons from the german experience,... Yet some of the völkisch movement of the nineteenth Century figures exemplify this conjunction!, outside of a critical social framework, is exemplary in this.... The earliest example of ‘ ecological ’ thinking in the past five years so! 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A justification for a Lousy Year long since left an indelible stain Germans from ruin thought! Of major concern his culture and customs, they should not be the first to institute environmental protection laws with...

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