The Faustian Bargain of Cultural Control

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has long been a thorn in the side of European politics, peddling a toxic mix of nationalism and xenophobia. Their latest move takes aim at German culture’s vibrant arts scene by threatening to cut funding from institutions that don’t conform to their narrow definition of “German” art. This is a blatant attempt to strangle dissenting voices.

The AfD’s cultural policy program is not just about ideology; it’s also about power. As polls suggest the party could win an absolute majority in Saxony-Anhalt’s state election on September 6, they’re looking to flex their muscles and assert control over the cultural narrative. The program replete with veiled threats and historically loaded language is a clarion call for the suppression of artistic freedom.

Bauhaus, that iconic symbol of modernist design and innovation, has long been a target of far-right ire. Founded in 1919, it was forced to close under Nazi rule, its avant-garde ideas deemed “un-German.” The AfD is once again seeking to undermine Bauhaus’s influence, describing it as “a school of architecture” with questionable artistic merit and criticizing its emphasis on modernity.

The AfD’s use of language is telling. By invoking a “patriotic cultural policy,” they’re harking back to a bygone era when art was seen as a tool for nationalistic indoctrination. Their proposed slogan, “deutschdenken” (thinking German), echoes the Nazi propaganda of old with its emphasis on blood and soil nationalism.

The party’s attempt to define what constitutes “German” art is particularly disturbing. By requiring artists to sign a declaration pledging allegiance to their brand of patriotism, they’re effectively silencing any dissenting voices. This is not just about funding; it’s about control.

Many institutions and artists in Saxony-Anhalt are speaking out against the AfD’s plans. Barbara Steiner, director of the Bauhaus Foundation, has noted the eerie similarities between the AfD’s language and that used by the Nazi party 100 years ago. As Sabine Schramm, director of Magdeburg’s puppet theater, so eloquently puts it: “It is regrettable that we humans are not willing to draw conclusions from a complex history — conclusions that matter both to us as individuals and to us as a society.” The AfD’s attempts to rewrite history, suppress the culture of remembrance, and silence dissenting voices are a threat not just to artistic freedom but to the very fabric of German democracy.

The international community must take heed of this latest development. As far-right ideologies rise across Europe, it’s clear that the battle for cultural control is being waged on multiple fronts. The Faustian bargain of cutting funding in exchange for ideological purity is a recipe for disaster, and one that we cannot afford to ignore.

As Saxony-Anhalt goes to the polls on September 6, the world will be watching. Will the AfD’s draconian policies come to pass? One thing is certain: the future of artistic freedom hangs precariously in the balance.