“German Far- Right Extremists”

 By: Kate Connolly

This article describes the reasoning behind the environmentalism supported by the far-right political parties in Germany. The connection between right-wing extremism and environmental consciousness goes against the stereotypical narrative of left-leaning “hippies” as proponents of environmentalism. The article describes how modern day right-wing party members in particular have begun to embrace the green movement (to the point of even producing environmental propaganda) in an attempt to remain relevant and engage the youth audience. Despite this recent resurgence, historically environmentalism was a key concern even going back to the Nazis and Hitler. This article brings up the important question of if environmental consciousness is even possible without being in conjunction with racial equality. Can an inherently racist group still practice good environmental management? Many social identities overlap and intertwine in the management of the environment, and the idea of racism and environmentalism coexisting in a political platform seems hypocritical. The important takeaway from the article is that assumptions about the ethics of products labeled as “organic” or “ecofriendly” within the German culture may very well be incorrect, if right-wing extremists are backing the product and simultaneously pushing an agenda of xenophobia and racism. It calls upon consumers and voters alike to be conscious of the rhetoric employed by different organizations and how your choices could result in the indirect support of concepts that don’t align with your ethical environmental ideology.