The initiative 'Gen Z regelt' has issued a call for youth protests in Germany, explicitly naming France as a model while stating a rejection of violence. This comparison arises against the backdrop of recent unrest in France, where demonstrators have invoked the French Revolution of 1789 with slogans like "We are storming the Bastille" and images showing the occupation of town halls in cities such as Marseille. Experts note that these references reveal a distinct self-perception among French protesters who view themselves as fighting for democracy from the bottom up, a sentiment less deeply rooted in Germany.
Isabell Hoffmann, director of the German-French Institute in Ludwigsburg, and Nina-Kathrin Wienkoop, a political scientist at the Institute for Protest and Movement Research in Berlin, explain that the German approach is influenced by a fear of instability and chaos linked to the Weimar Republic. In Germany, democracy is often conceptualized as a system protected by strong institutions rather than something to be seized through upheaval. This cultural divergence is evident even before the youth protests scheduled for Saturday, where fears have emerged regarding whether scenes similar to those in France might occur.
Legal frameworks also create significant differences between the two nations, particularly regarding strike rights. Wienkoop points out that in Germany, the right to strike is primarily reserved for trade unions within collective bargaining contexts. Conversely, French employees can legally strike even without union backing, and unions there have a broader mandate to call strikes against issues like pension reforms, which would not be possible under German law. Furthermore, French unions are more accustomed to joining strikes organized by other groups.
Societal acceptance of disruptive tactics further distinguishes the two countries. In France, widespread work stoppages and actions that deliberately disrupt daily life are more socially legitimized as a means to enforce rights. In contrast, such disruptive protest tactics in Germany tend to be quickly delegitimized, as seen with climate activists whose blockades caused traffic jams. Additionally, the political systems shape protest forms; Hoffmann notes that the French system focuses heavily on President Emmanuel Macron as an ultimate projection surface for hope or rejection, whereas Germany's federal system allows for participation at much lower levels.
Regarding the potential for violence, both experts consider it unlikely that Germany will see protests of the same magnitude or with the level of looting and building attacks observed in France. Hoffmann attributes the French unrest to an accumulation of various interventions and movements over recent years requiring specific conditions to converge. Wienkoop warns, however, that the current discourse on internal security in Germany could contribute to a tense situation. She emphasizes the importance of ensuring the right to assembly is exercised safely without disproportionate preventive measures, noting that initial state reactions are crucial in determining whether protests escalate.
Sources: FAZ.