Broad alliances against the AfD?: “Social anti-fascism is needed”

taz: Mr. Candeias, after the AfD's election victory in Saxony-Anhalt, there is once again a call for broad alliance demonstrations with the participation of all democratic parties. They see this as a problem. Why?

Mario Candeias: These broad protest alliances often have the severe limitation that they lose sight of the causes of fascization. Then we work together with the Greens and the SPD against the AfD, but not against the prevailing politics. This ignores where the racism and classism of AfD voters comes from: also from the feeling of having to defend what you still have - which is why groups of people who supposedly do nothing are attacked. Anyone who just defends the status quo is making themselves unbelievable. A helpless anti-fascism.

is responsible for analysis and strategy at the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung and senior editor of the LuXemburg magazine. His last book is called: The Connecting Party. Theory and practice, published by Argument Verlag.

taz: Isn't that a very harsh judgment? Ultimately, the Greens and the SPD also want a society that is more solidarity-based – in complete contrast to the AfD.

Candeias: There are a lot of good people in these parties to work with. The problem, however, is that these parties have not yet come to terms with their neoliberalism. The current social cuts and austerity policies, which are more severe than at the time of the Harz reforms, the failure to protect the climate and the billions invested in armaments, are often the reason that people no longer expect anything from “politics”. The AfD is of course hyper-neoliberal itself, but has managed to fill these fears with a racially racist narrative.

taz: You are calling for “social anti-fascism”, i.e. the combination of anti-fascism with other social struggles, in which the Left Party should also play a role. What exactly should that look like?

Candeias: Very diverse: From legal aid initiatives such as “Law Solidarity” for civil society initiatives under pressure, to supporting teachers who are accused of violating the neutrality requirement. “Sponsorships” for Inis in small towns. We need civil disobedience against the AfD, also in the sense of resistance, joint strikes in schools, universities, administrations, or company meetings where work is interrupted and discussed in order to create economic pressure. A strike by all people with a migrant background would also be a strong signal. A role model can be the diverse fights against the US deportation authority ICE in Minneapolis, which emerged on the basis of community organization.

Candeias: Yes, that's right. But what the many good initiatives on site keep telling us is that they hardly manage to get beyond everyday life. There's just too much going on for that. There needs to be a unifying element that creates a real counterpoint in the discourse and in people's perceptions. A clear sign that there is an anti-fascist movement that not only acts against the AfD, but also pursues a really different social project and wants to improve people's everyday lives.

taz: And the Left Party should play this role?

Candeias: In alliance with civil society initiatives, without determining this, yes. A party can connect the lines between individual struggles – against rising rents, for the preservation of hospitals, for the defense of social infrastructure or against mass camps for refugees. It can create an organizational basis to go into disadvantaged neighborhoods to get beyond the usual suspects. Simply coordinating all initiatives more closely would not be enough. We have to become more so that pressure can be built up. This is where a party can help, without claiming exclusive leadership.

taz: Do you really believe that the Left Party in Saxony-Anhalt could fulfill this role?

Candeias: The catastrophe that the BSW is sitting in the state parliament and is now possibly enabling an AfD government opens a window for this - because the Left probably doesn't have to support a CDU government to prevent the AfD. The Left Party has grown massively in recent years, and there are many people there who want to build an organizing party in a more oppositional manner. Of course, these people are primarily active in big cities. But the work from there also has the potential to radiate beyond this and to provide exemplary help where the critical mass is missing in smaller places.

taz: Wouldn't it significantly weaken the anti-AfD movement if the movement lacked all those who are against the AfD but can't do anything with the left or redistribution?

Candeias: Why? The anti-AfD demos will continue to exist. And as far as the SPD and the Greens are concerned: These parties also have to decide where they stand in the current social situation. They can play a role in social anti-fascism. On the other hand, if we ignore the question of distribution, we only confirm the feeling that nothing will change. Antifascism without antineoliberalism – that only helps the AfD.