Germany has long been viewed as *the* model for reckoning with past atrocities—particularly through its atonement for the Holocaust and the creation of a public space steeped in historical reflection and contrition. Unlike Italy, for example, Germany has made its national memory a central pillar of its identity. However, this commitment to remembrance is now producing some unforeseen challenges.

For example, the legacy of the Holocaust makes critical public discussions about the actions of the Israeli government very difficult. At the same time, antisemitism, which has never fully disappeared, is once again on the rise.

In November 2023, members of the far-right party AfD were caught in a secret meeting discussing a “master plan” for the mass deportation of foreigners and “non-assimilated” Germans. When the news broke in January 2024, over a million people took to the streets across Germany to protest extremism and AfD’s ideology.

While the widespread mobilization in defense of democracy is heartening, it’s equally concerning that a party like AfD—which would have been considered taboo just a decade ago—has not only gained traction but may even be poised for government in the near future.

So, how did AfD become the third-largest political force in Germany? And is the country’s democratic cordon sanitaire strong enough to hold?

This interview delves into these questions and more with political expert Manès Weisskircher.

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