How Does Militant Democracy Function in Combating Right-Wing Extremism? A Case Study of Slovakian Militant Democracy and the Rise of Kotleba – People’s Party Our Slovakia

Abstract

This chapter examines how militant democracy functions in countering right-wing extremism. A case study of the Slovakian extreme-right party Kotleba’s – People’s Party Our Slovakia (L’SNS) is used to explain the difficulties in using militant democracy to confront right-wing extremism. First, the history of militant democracy combatting right-wing extremism is outlined, including Karl Loewenstein’s legacy of counter fascist measures from the interwar period. The situation in the Federal Republic of Germany is analysed and some critiques of political scientists and legal experts relating to militant democracy are discussed. Second, the author, building on this discussion, develops a conceptual framework for analysing the impact of militant democracy on right-wing extremism. He elaborates three scenarios that can play out after banning a political party or association: a positive “white scenario” (the elimination of right-wing extremism), a grey scenario (the rise of right-wing populism, instead of right-wing extremism) and two black scenarios (the recurrence of a party very similar to that which has been banned and the rise of new, effective organisational structures within the extreme-right scene). Third, to conclude, the author analyses the L’SNS and the countermeasures of Slovak militant democracy, a confrontation still in progress, against the backdrop of the three scenarios.