Czech ministry expects neo-Nazis to restore ties with DSSS party
published: 19.05.2011, 16:46 | updated: 19.05.2011 16:58:00
Prague - The Czech Interior Ministry expects the local neo-Nazi movement to gradually restore its "symbiotic ties" with the far-right extra-parliamentary Workers´ Party of Social Justice (DSSS), successor to the Workers´ Party (DS) banned by court, it says in an analysis released to CTK.
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The analysis deals with the situation in recent years when a part of neo-Nazis criticised the DS and diverted from it. The ministry expects the movement to reunite based on the ideas of autonomous nationalism.
The ministry registered neo-Nazis´ inclination to the DS from 2007. It says cooperation between neo-Nazis and the DS produced "a dangerous symbiosis of the political and the militant wings of the Czech extreme right."
The cooperation enhanced the DS´s voter support as well as attendance at the DS-organised public rallies. It also legitimised the violence accompanying the rallies, the ministry analysis says.
From the beginning, however, neo-Nazis simultaneously criticised the DS over its programme, name, logo and its public presentation.
"At the time, arguments were tabled saying that the DS, with its ´neo-Nazi and skinhead" style, is far from a modern ultra-right party. It is rather reminiscent of the violent racism of the 1990s, which prevents it from gaining broad public´s support," the critics said, according to the ministry´s analysis.
Although the criticism persisted, the opinion prevailed that despite its flaws, the DS is the only possible pro-nationalist opposition to the official establishment. A part of the [neo-Nazi] scene finally diverted from the DS. They came to the conclusion that the party is inflexible, incapable of using its potential, drawing a lesson from mistakes and of self-reflection.
A court banned the DS on the Interior Ministry´s proposal in February 2010.
At the same time, the Czech neo-Nazi movement was paralysed by repeated police raids.
Simultaneously, a debate was led on the further orientation of the neo-Nazi scene. There as a crucial clash between the young promoters of the modern idea of autonomous nationalism and older neo-Nazis, mainly those associated in the National Resistance (NO) unofficial grouping, the analysis says.
The Autonomous Nationalists (AN) have largely based their ideas on those of the far left, including the principle of autonomous groups without a single leadership as a way to reduce the danger of being infiltrated by the police, and the black block strategy applied at demonstrations, the analysis says.
One of the motives behind the AN´s establishment was critics´ effort to distance themselves from the skinhead movement. The AN is linked to adopting new styles such as graffiti, hip-hop and punk, and it tries to attract young people. Its ideology does not differ from the neo-Nazis´, the analysis writes, citing political scientists.
It says conservative neo-Nazis reproach the AN for adopting leftist elements, being too liberal and open to external influences.
"The [AN´s] diversion from the Hitlerite idea of national socialism has been considered a betrayal of and disrespect for those who laid their lives in fighting the so-called Jewish bolshevism and who fought for Europe´s liberty (a reference to the German Nazi army). The intended refraining from violent actions in favour of activism and promotion (stickers, graffiti...) has been considered a symbol of cowardice and the main cause why the whole movement has been losing authority and respect," the ministry writes.
The DS did not actively interfere in the dispute between the AN and neo-Nazis around the NO, but it sided with NO supporters.
That is why it was not surprising that the AN dissociated itself from the DSSS at the far-right´s central website last spring, while the website continued supporting the NO, the ministry writes.
"The rift in the neo-Nazi movement caused the DSSS to lose [its followers´] firm support and confidence it enjoyed in the past," the analysis says.
A present, its says, the neo-Nazi movement is still paralysed by police raids. Also as a result of this, it is undergoing an internal transformation in favour of autonomous nationalism, the analysis says.
This is also what the Interior Ministry says in its fresh annual report on the situation in the area of extremism in 2010.
The NO is losing its dominant position. Its branches became inactive last years, it faced financial problems and sharp personal disputes.
Unlike it, the AN operated relatively smoothly last year. The AN is gradually becoming the main force on the ultra-right scene, the ministry writes in the report.
In the analysis, it says the DSSS does not seem to be able to transform itself into a modern, cultivated, anti-European right-wing entity.
In spite of this, leaders of all neo-Nazi groupings are aware that the paralysed scene must reunite to regain strength, the analysis says.
rtj/dr/pv
The ministry registered neo-Nazis´ inclination to the DS from 2007. It says cooperation between neo-Nazis and the DS produced "a dangerous symbiosis of the political and the militant wings of the Czech extreme right."
The cooperation enhanced the DS´s voter support as well as attendance at the DS-organised public rallies. It also legitimised the violence accompanying the rallies, the ministry analysis says.
From the beginning, however, neo-Nazis simultaneously criticised the DS over its programme, name, logo and its public presentation.
"At the time, arguments were tabled saying that the DS, with its ´neo-Nazi and skinhead" style, is far from a modern ultra-right party. It is rather reminiscent of the violent racism of the 1990s, which prevents it from gaining broad public´s support," the critics said, according to the ministry´s analysis.
Although the criticism persisted, the opinion prevailed that despite its flaws, the DS is the only possible pro-nationalist opposition to the official establishment. A part of the [neo-Nazi] scene finally diverted from the DS. They came to the conclusion that the party is inflexible, incapable of using its potential, drawing a lesson from mistakes and of self-reflection.
A court banned the DS on the Interior Ministry´s proposal in February 2010.
At the same time, the Czech neo-Nazi movement was paralysed by repeated police raids.
Simultaneously, a debate was led on the further orientation of the neo-Nazi scene. There as a crucial clash between the young promoters of the modern idea of autonomous nationalism and older neo-Nazis, mainly those associated in the National Resistance (NO) unofficial grouping, the analysis says.
The Autonomous Nationalists (AN) have largely based their ideas on those of the far left, including the principle of autonomous groups without a single leadership as a way to reduce the danger of being infiltrated by the police, and the black block strategy applied at demonstrations, the analysis says.
One of the motives behind the AN´s establishment was critics´ effort to distance themselves from the skinhead movement. The AN is linked to adopting new styles such as graffiti, hip-hop and punk, and it tries to attract young people. Its ideology does not differ from the neo-Nazis´, the analysis writes, citing political scientists.
It says conservative neo-Nazis reproach the AN for adopting leftist elements, being too liberal and open to external influences.
"The [AN´s] diversion from the Hitlerite idea of national socialism has been considered a betrayal of and disrespect for those who laid their lives in fighting the so-called Jewish bolshevism and who fought for Europe´s liberty (a reference to the German Nazi army). The intended refraining from violent actions in favour of activism and promotion (stickers, graffiti...) has been considered a symbol of cowardice and the main cause why the whole movement has been losing authority and respect," the ministry writes.
The DS did not actively interfere in the dispute between the AN and neo-Nazis around the NO, but it sided with NO supporters.
That is why it was not surprising that the AN dissociated itself from the DSSS at the far-right´s central website last spring, while the website continued supporting the NO, the ministry writes.
"The rift in the neo-Nazi movement caused the DSSS to lose [its followers´] firm support and confidence it enjoyed in the past," the analysis says.
A present, its says, the neo-Nazi movement is still paralysed by police raids. Also as a result of this, it is undergoing an internal transformation in favour of autonomous nationalism, the analysis says.
This is also what the Interior Ministry says in its fresh annual report on the situation in the area of extremism in 2010.
The NO is losing its dominant position. Its branches became inactive last years, it faced financial problems and sharp personal disputes.
Unlike it, the AN operated relatively smoothly last year. The AN is gradually becoming the main force on the ultra-right scene, the ministry writes in the report.
In the analysis, it says the DSSS does not seem to be able to transform itself into a modern, cultivated, anti-European right-wing entity.
In spite of this, leaders of all neo-Nazi groupings are aware that the paralysed scene must reunite to regain strength, the analysis says.
rtj/dr/pv
