“National solidarity—no to globalization”

In 2010, Germany’s Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands (NPD, National Democratic Party), the oldest party within the extreme right-wing spectrum of the Federal Republic of Germany, ² was able to de-escalate the internal battles that had kept members preoccupied for years. Such progress was needed in order to achieve what had long been a stated party goal: ³ at the convention on June 4–5 of that year, an agreement was reached on a national party platform headlined with the slogan Work—Family—Fatherland. ⁴ Furthermore, at year’s end they announced the merger with the Deutsche Volks-Union (DVU, German People’s Union), which means that one of its most serious competitors among right-wing extremist parties has now been de facto absorbed into the NPD. Almost all other political parties of the German extreme right have become insignificant in recent years, ⁵ and the neo-Nazi spectrum has similarly been integrated into the NPD. Apart from the fact that the NPD may have to fear the competition of xenophobic right-wing populism by other parties seeking to woo voters, it really remains the only nationally relevant political power openly expressing anti-government, anti-constitutional right-wing extremism. While its significance within the overall political culture of the Federal Republic remains marginal, within the right-wing extremist spectrum it has become a hegemonic power.