Germany, Israel, and staatsräson (part one) w/ Bue Rübner Hansen
Aug 6, 2024
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Bue Rübner Hansen, an insightful essayist, explores the complex history of the German-Israeli alliance. The discussion reveals how public attitudes in Germany toward Israel vary widely, often influenced by political elites. Hansen examines the pervasive memory culture surrounding Nazism and the Holocaust, illustrating its impact on contemporary views, particularly regarding Palestinians. He also sheds light on the emergence of anti-German sentiments within the left and the marginalization of historical working-class opposition to the Nazis.
Germany's significant arms support to Israel indicates a strong political commitment, contrasting with the limited public backing from its citizens.
The evolution of Germany's memory culture emphasizes collective guilt over the Holocaust, but may obscure a nuanced understanding of its historical responsibilities.
The emergence of an 'anti-German' faction within the left reflects tensions around nationalism and anti-Semitism, complicating critiques of Israeli policies.
Deep dives
Germany's Material Support for Israel
Germany plays a crucial role as one of Israel's primary material backers, contributing significantly to its arms imports. Between 2019 and 2023, Germany accounted for 30% of these imports, with a sharp increase following the escalation in Gaza. In 2022, Germany's weapon sales to Israel reached over €326 million, notably boosted by arms export licenses granted after October 7th. This strong material support reflects a political commitment from the German government, which has also adhered firmly to a pro-Israel stance in diplomatic contexts.
Public Attitudes Towards Israel
While the political elite in Germany demonstrates considerable support for Israel, this sentiment is not universally shared by the general public. Polling data indicates that approximately only 17% of Germans fully support Israel, which is not significantly higher than the 14% support for Palestine. This suggests that the prevailing political climate is shaped more by the demands of the elite and cultural sectors, rather than a widespread public consensus. Consequently, support for Israel appears to be more pronounced among the political class rather than the general populace.
Cultural Memory and National Guilt
The development of Germany’s memory culture surrounding the Nazi era has evolved significantly, especially since the 1980s. This cultural narrative primarily emphasizes a collective guilt associated with the Holocaust, complicating the understanding of Germany's historical responsibility. The philosopher Karl Jaspers articulated a multi-dimensional concept of guilt that categorized it into criminal, political, moral, and metaphysical realms, stressing the need for all Germans to confront their past. However, this narrative has been criticized for ethnicizing guilt, which overlooks complexities and nuances in Germany's relationship with its own history.
The Emergence of the Anti-German Left
An interesting dynamic has emerged within the German left, resulting in the rise of what can be described as an 'anti-German' current. This faction has developed a strong pro-Israel stance, primarily as a reaction against both German nationalism and anti-Semitism that has surfaced since reunification. Their position reflects a perceived need to condemn any expressions of nationalism that could lead to another wave of right-wing extremism in Germany. Consequently, the anti-German left often equates critiques of Israeli policies with anti-Semitism, positioning itself as a moral counterweight to historical amnesia about Germany's past.
Historical Contexts of Anti-Semitism and Class Struggle
The historical relationship between German nationalism and anti-Semitism has significantly impacted leftist attitudes towards these issues today. The radical left in Germany often grapples with a legacy of anti-Semitism and unresolved tensions regarding its own national identity. The experience of the Nazi era led to a narrative that blames the entire German populace for historical atrocities, fostering a deep-rooted suspicion of working-class movements. This narrative complicates the left's ability to engage with contemporary issues related to anti-Semitism and racism, often leading to a focus on linguistic vigilance rather than addressing overt acts of violence and discrimination.
Bue Rübner Hansen joins PTO to talk about his recent essay The New German Chauvinism. In the first part of our conversation we discussed the history of the German-Israeli alliance and how its emergence was far more complicated than is commonly supposed. We discussed the contrasting attitudes to Israel amongst the German public and the political and media class and big business. And we went on to discuss the distinct memory culture around the crimes of Nazism and the Holocaust, that emerged in West Germany during the Cold War and how elements of that culture fostered a political climate in Germany that is, at best, deaf to the suffering of the Palestinians. We also talked about the emergence of the Anti-German current within the German left and how its suspicion of the German working class stemmed from the obliteration of the history of working class opposition to the Nazis.
Read Bue's two part essay here:
https://lefteast.org/the-new-german-chauvinism-part-i/
https://lefteast.org/the-new-german-chauvinism-part-ii/
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