Jacob Dearing
Dec. 16th, 2015
Critical Abstract #12
Article author: Kate Connolly
Article title: German Far-right Extremists Tap into Green Movement for Support
It is common that when considering the features of a social organization to preconceive what values or morals that organization may maintain. The article written by Kate Connolly describes a contradiction of values that are not commonly associated with a specific social organization. The social organization described is the NPD, which is a German far-rights group that places values in conservation and green movements. The popular view is that organizations that hold values in conservation can be commonly classified as “left-wing”. Due to the fact that the values described are contradictory towards where the general public would assign them it is meet with scrutiny and distrust. The article explains the purpose of taking on conservation principles is to gain a stronger political standing. The author presents the case of the German far-rights magazine Umwelt und Aktiv as evidence of this front to gaining followers as the contents of the magazine show conservation methods with the rights ideology and racial slurs. However, this is not an implication of the movement being a front but simply shows the mixed values of the group itself. These mixed views can be found in the roots of the far rights group as the article explains the Nazi party maintained such values of conservation and animal rights before its fall. Connolly then explains how the public observes these groups gathering in communities suggesting insurgency. Having said that, these locations are desirable to someone with values in conservation. From this article I’ve learned to try to acknowledge preconceptions of social groups that I may have as it stunts critical thought.