The wolves are coming back: The politics of fear in Eastern Germany (Manchester University Press)

Since 1990 the wolf has been a protected species in Germany; killing a wolf is a crime punishable by a prison sentence of up to five years. In Eastern Germany, where the political ground is shifting to the right, locals argue that the wolves are not German but Western Polish, undeserving of protection since they have invaded Saxon territory and threatened the local way of life. Many people in Eastern Germany feel that the wolf, like the migrant, has been a problem for years, but that nobody in power is listening to them. At a time when nationalist parties are on the rise everywhere in Europe, The wolves are coming back offers an insight into the rise of Eastern German fringe political movements and agitation against both migrants and wolves by hunters, farmers, rioters and self-appointed saviours of the nation. The nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD) represents the third-largest party in the German federal parliament, with representation in the vast majority of German states. It draws much of its support from regions that have been referred to as the ‘post-traumatic places’ in Eastern Germany, structured by realities of disownment, disenfranchisement and a lack of democratic infrastructure. Pates and Leser provide an account of the societal roots of a new group of radical right parties, whose existence and success we always assumed to be impossible. Across Eastern Germany, Where Political Allegiances Are Shifting To The Right, The Wolf Is Increasingly Seen As A Trespasser And Threat To The Local Way Of Life. Styled By Populist Right-wing Actors As An 'invasive Species', The Wolf Evokes And Resonates With Anti-immigration Sentiments And Widespread Fears Of Demographic Catastrophe. To Many People In Eastern Germany, The Immigrant And The Wolf Are An Indistinguishable Problem That Nobody In Power Is Doing Anything About. In This Account Of Eastern German Agitation Of Wolves And Migrants, Eastern German Hunters, Farmers, Rioters And Self-appointed 'saviours Of The Nation', Pates And Leser Move Beyond Stereotypic Representations Of 'the East' And Shine A Light On The Complexities Of Post-socialist Life And Losses.0as Nationalist Parties Are On The Rise Across Europe, The Wolves Are Coming Back Offers An Insight Into The Rise Of The Far Right In Germany. The Nationalist Alternative For Germany Represents The Third-largest Party In The German Federal Parliament, With Representation In The Vast Majority Of German States. They Draw Much Of Their Support From The 'post-traumatic Places' In Eastern Germany, Regions Structured By Realities Of Disownment, Disenfranchisement And A Lack Of Democratic Infrastructure. Pates And Leser Provide An Account Of The Societal Roots Of A New Group Of Radical Right Parties, Whose Existence And Success We Always Assumed To Be Impossible. By Rebecca Pates And Julia Leser. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Across Eastern Germany, where political allegiances are shifting to the right, the wolf is increasingly seen as a trespasser and threat to the local way of life. Styled by populist right-wing actors as an invasive species, the wolf evokes and resonates with anti-immigration sentiments and widespread fears of demographic catastrophe. To many people in Eastern Germany, the immigrant and the wolf are an indistinguishable problem that nobody in power is doing anything about. In this account of Eastern German agitation of wolves and migrants, Eastern German hunters, farmers, rioters and self-appointed 'saviours of the nation', Pates and Leser move beyond stereotypic representations of the East and shine a light on the complexities of post-socialist life and losses. As nationalist parties are on the rise across Europe, The wolves are coming back offers an insight into the rise of the far right in Germany. The nationalist Alternative for Germany represents the third-largest party in the German federal parliament, with representation in the vast majority of German states. They draw much of their support from the post-traumatic places in Eastern Germany, regions structured by realities of disownment, disenfranchisement and a lack of democratic infrastructure. Pates and Leser provide an account of the societal roots of a new group of radical right parties, whose existence and success we always assumed to be impossible. The wolves are returning to Germany, while German politics are shifting to the right. The rising nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD) draw much of their support from places that have been referred to as the 'post-traumatic places' in East Germany, structured by realities of disownment, disenfranchisement, and a lack of democratic infrastructure. While nationalist parties are on the rise everywhere in Europe, this is a case study of East German fringe political movements, splinter parties, and agitation against both migrants and wolves. The authors move beyond easy stereotypes and strive to unravel the deep story of why East German politics is shifting to the right. The returning wolves serve both as metaphor and analytical tool to further an understanding of the logics and sentiments that underlie the rise of the right in East German politics Front Matter Contents List of figures Preface Acknowledgements List of abbreviations Introduction: Wolf politics The ‘East’: Depopulation, deindustrialisation, colonialism Wolf packs: Pogroms, pillories and riots Renaturing and the politics of Heimat Herding wayward citizens Affective politics Sheep in wolves’ clothing? Notes References Index The wolves are coming back moves beyond stereotypic representations of East Germany, and shines light on the complexities of post-socialist life and losses. It seeks to explain the extraordinary success of new far right parties in a vivid ethnographic recounting of the local politics of fear, hope and national identity. -- .