Extreme Nationalism. Structural Conditions of the National Socialist Seizure of Power

Abstract

A particularly fatal form of nationalism is ascribed to the Germans. However, in German history, there are examples of extreme nationalism as well as of periods that have been criticized because of a perceived lack of national feeling. Today, the aggressive nationalism in Germany that brought National Socialists to power is unanimously condemned. Extreme nationalistic developments are particularly dangerous when referring to ultimate values that cannot be specified. The less the self-concept of a nation is defined, the more people identify with empty symbols in an unoriented and blinded manner. The demagogic activism of National Socialists mobilized nationalistic emotions that had been released from structural conflicts and, at the same time, fulfilled the national need for interpretation. It was the result of a rare but not unique coincidence of structural and cultural factors. Nationalistic mass movements may break out suddenly; however, they are based on complex and relatively heterogeneous social and cultural conflicts that can be restricted and controlled. Only the coincidence of social and cultural conflicts is dangerous since this can be unlimited and uncontrollable. However, the lack of manifest great nationalistic flows, parties, and associations is no guarantee against extreme nationalism. Only continuous attention to and control of various latent nationalistic structural effects, which are present in any society, protects against a sudden coincidence of cultural and structural conflicts.