Die völkische Weltanschauung | Florian Hoffmann, Andrea Röpke und Simon Wörz

The “Völkisch” worldview is not a historical relic. It emerged in the late 19th century in the German Empire as a reaction to modernization, industrialization, and political upheavals such as the founding of the German Empire. Anti-Semitism and racism were at its core from the very beginning. Beginning with World War I, the völkisch ideology developed an enormous potential for aggression and laid the ideological groundwork for National Socialism and the Holocaust.

Unfortunately, the influence of völkisch thinking remains unbroken even today. Not only is the term “völkisch” omnipresent in the media, but numerous politicians and public figures from far-right parties, organizations, and groups are also significantly influenced by völkisch ideology in their political actions and social visions.

Today’s völkisch movement operates in a globalized and technologically interconnected context and exploits current issues such as environmental awareness and migration to spread its ideologies. Yet the fundamental ideas of völkisch nationalism and ethnic homogeneity have hardly changed since the days of the German Empire. The idea of land acquisition and retreating to rural, “pure” communities also continues to play a central role. Today’s far-right extremists no longer appear solely in combat boots and with shaved heads; they also champion their political convictions as so-called “eco-farmers.” Constitutional protection agencies have been warning for some time that parts of the extremist scene are attempting to recruit new followers under the guise of ecological goals. Numerous connections to ethnic-right-wing extremist circles can also be found in esoteric or naturopathic circles, for example.

In conversation withMirjam Zadoff arefilmmakerFlorian Hoffmann, who is currently working on a feature film about the contemporary “völkisch” movement for ZDF; investigative journalistAndrea Röpke, who has been researching and reporting on right-wing extremism for decades; and journalistSimon Wörz, who, as part of theLagune 11collective—which, among other things, produces the podcast“Seelenfänger”to expose esoteric circles and “völkisch” thinking—will delve into the dangerous and multifaceted “völkisch” worldview of our time.

A collaboration between the NS Documentation Center Munich and the Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus.