Exit Germany

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Exit Germany

logo
legal form initiative
founding 2000
Seat Berlin
management Bernd Wagner
Website www.exit-deutschland.de

Exit-Deutschland (spelling: EXIT-Deutschland ) is an initiative of the Center for Democratic Culture (ZDK) founded in 2000 by the criminalist and former chief detective Bernd Wagner and the former neo-Nazi Ingo Hasselbach . She helps those who want to drop out of the right-wing extremist scene and families who want to detach their relatives from the right-wing extremist movement.

History and fields of activity

Since the summer of 2000, Exit-Deutschland has been the first German initiative to offer advice and contacts for those dropping out of the radical right-wing movement. Exit Germany projects will be funded mainly by the Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth and donations until the end of 2023 . According to its own statements, Exit-Germany helps those leaving to find new perspectives outside of the radical right-wing movement. Contacts are made and practical help is given in matters of security, social problems, education, work and personal reassessment. There is no economic and social security or protection from criminal prosecution for former right-wing extremists. Exit-Germany and the ZDK Society Democratic Culture gGmbH reject cooperation with security authorities without a legal basis .

Exit-Germany analyzes right-wing extremist efforts, works with science and the media to educate people about right-wing radical ideologies and actions, shows possibilities of democratic action and deradicalization and advises projects and institutions. Exit has accompanied various cinema films in the implementation, including: Roots Germania , Die Arier , Kriegerin , "Verbotene Films", He is back and supported productions such as the documentary format RealTalk for the Netflix series Dogs of Berlin .

Exit-Germany has a national and international network of partners in exit and distancing work. This allows the exchange on a general technical level and in the specific case and phenomenon area and serves as collegial advice. EXIT-Germany is a co-founder of the Federal Working Group “Exit to Entry” (BAG), was a member until 2016 and was a member of the council of speakers. In 2016, EXIT-Deutschland left the BAG and is now an associated partner. In addition, Exit-Deutschland advises projects, initiatives, working groups and decision-makers on deradicalization, right-wing extremism and right-wing terrorism. Exit-Deutschland projects and initiatives are recommended by the European Commission as "inspiring practices" and can be found in the European Commission's online database.

Exit

According to the definition of Exit Germany, an exit has taken place when there has been a critical reflection, processing and successful questioning of the previous ideology. This includes that the ties to right-wing radical structures are broken and a life largely free of persecution is possible. According to Exit-Deutschland, contact can be made via telephone, email, SMS and letter post. In addition, the initiative states that face-to-face interviews with dropouts are also held in prisons, if possible. With this one would like to ensure the establishment of contact and detention care. In the event of security problems, help is provided according to the available options, for example if attacks or persecution from the militant right-wing extremist scene threaten or take place.

Support and advice

With disembarking ends is to overcome the ideology and dealing with the past, including committed crimes worked. Exit-Germany helps people who are leaving to develop their personal skills and insights to redesign personal relationships and reorientation in everyday life in school, teaching and work. If possible, Exit-Deutschland also supports the removal of right-wing extremist tattoos. From May 2000 to June 2019, Exit is accompanying 746 people with their exit.

Regional contact options

In addition to nationwide contact, Exit-Deutschland has regional partners in various federal states, in Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Bavaria. In the regions, these are intended to provide assistance in leaving right-wing extremist groups and their ideology as well as integration into social life, family assistance and support for those leaving the penal system and reintegration.

journal

JEX - The Journal of Exit Germany

Journal Exit-Germany , or JEX for short , has been the initiative since 2008 , today as an open access online journal with the title Journal Exit-Germany. Magazine for deradicalization and democratic culture .

The journal EXIT-Deutschland (JEX) is a journal in the German-speaking area for the scientific interdisciplinary exchange with practice on deradicalization, extremism and democratic culture with a scientific claim. The journal is roughly divided into two areas: the scientific-theoretical and the practical part.

Both areas should complement each other in a dialogue, linked by setting priorities for each issue. Contributions from academics of all levels who research the subject areas of anti-libertarian radicalism and, in the course of this, extremism, radicalization, terrorism, deradicalization and the like, as well as articles by practitioners in deradicalization work.

advancement

Exit Germany is financed through donations and project funding. In 2013, the then federal government passed a cabinet resolution to promote the initiative on a long-term basis. Since 2015 Exit has been living democracy as part of the federal government's program ! Funded until 2019 in the structural funding program area as a federal agency .

In the follow-up program of the federal government from 2020 onwards, assistance and deradicalisation from militant groups, women and children outside the security authorities at the federal level were expressly no longer provided despite international recognition. This concerned all initiatives of preventive and combative intervention in the phenomenal areas of extremism, which were funded by the Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ).

Funding periods
  • 2020–2023 Funded as part of the Federal Government's program: Live Democracy! (Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth), in the program area of ​​the accompanying program to the Federal Program Live Democracy!
  • 2015–2020 "Aid to exit and de-radicalization from militant groups, women and children beyond the security authorities at federal level" funded as part of the Federal Government's program: Live Democracy! until 2019 in the program area structural funding to the federal central agency (Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth)
  • 2013–2014: "EXIT-Germany" ( Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth ; special funding in accordance with the decision of the Federal Government)
  • 2009–2013: "EXIT Germany - changing sides as an entry into a new life" ( Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs / European Social Fund (ESF); Xenos special program "Exit to entry")

Counter narratives & promotions

The Trojan T-shirt from Exit-Germany (left before, right after washing)

Exit-Deutschland has implemented various counter narratives and campaigns, which are intended to achieve a general discussion of the issue of exit in the target group, but also in society as a whole. According to the creators, they want to “counteract the situation with an alternative design and combine it with concrete help” and “make potential dropouts [...] in a humorous way aware of problems and show possibilities for discussion”.

Operation Trojan T-shirt

The Operation Trojan T-Shirt campaign , which was carried out by the advertising agency Grabartz und Partner in cooperation with Exit , ensured international recognition . The T-shirts were distributed free of charge on August 6, 2011 in Gera at the right-wing rock festival Rock für Deutschland by the NPD Thuringia as the organizer at the box office. Only later was the print changed from a scene's own slogan to an advertising message for Exit by washing. Operation Trojan T-Shirt received international attention. The EU interior commissioner Cecilia Malmström described the action at a symposium as “A good example to illustrate how extremism propaganda can be countered” ( English for “A good example to illustrate how extremism propaganda can be countered”). The action should make the exit offer better known in the scene and v. a. address the young and not yet established right-wing extremists.

Exit-Germany is trying out a wide variety of ways to address target groups. As part of the action group of former right-wing extremists or Exit Germany z. B. Developed flyers, postcards and podcasts that work in a similar way to the T-shirt Trojan. With the 10-part video project Ausstieg (K) a way back , Exit-Germany tries to convey information on the topic of exit and the right-wing extremist scene.

Right versus right - Germany's most involuntary donation run

"Motivating" slogans along the demonstration route

Right versus right - Germany's most involuntary charity run is aform of peaceful counter-protest in neo-Nazi demonstrationsdevelopedby the Center for Democratic Culture (ZDK) gGmbH in the EXIT Germany project. The demonstrators involuntarily release a donation from sponsors to a charitable cause for every meter covered. Avoiding donations is only possible by canceling the demonstration. Posters and banners were attached along the demonstration route, ironically referring to the action with "motivating" slogans. For example: "If the Führer knew" and "Nimble as greyhounds, tough as leather - and generous as never before!" The idea behind it is based on the redirection of the actual purpose of the demonstration into an action contrary to the ideology of the demonstrators, whereby the participants ultimately against demonstrate yourself.

Hatred helps | the involuntary donation campaign

Hatred helps ( spelling : HASS HILFT or HassHilft ) is also anaction runby the ZDK , in which for every hate call madein social networks ,one euro is donated half to the Aktion Deutschland Hilft and Exit-Deutschlandwith the help of sponsorsentails a complete reversal of the original intention of the comment.

Ambassador EXIT Germany

In 2013, Exit Germany named so-called Exit Ambassadors for the first time. According to its own account, Exit sees the ambassador “as an appreciation of the commitment of the individual and at the same time as a representative of the idea of ​​EXIT Germany”. The honored people were honored for their commitment to “freedom and dignity of people and thus against ideologies that are hostile to democracy and freedom as well as inhuman”.

Ambassadors are:

Exhibitions

Under the skin - Former neo-Nazis and their symbols
For the project, the photographer Jakob Ganslmeier accompanied the work of EXIT Germany and the people who left in their exit process for over 3 years. The project is a combination of photographs and interviews and aims to make the process of profound changes visible. Through the project “Under the skin - Former neo-Nazis and their symbols” becomes visible. The exhibition consists of 13 framed 120 cm × 96 cm portrait pictures. The exhibition was presented for the first time in the Brandenburg State Museum for Modern Art.

Awards

Exit Germany has received several awards for its work. Exit received the 2012 Political Award , the Hyperland, and was included in the European Commission's 2012 Best Practice Project Database. Referring to Exit's own statements, the program received more inquiries from those willing to leave than the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution's dropout program. In 2013 Exit Germany was awarded the special prize of the city of Osnabrück .

In 2015, the campaign Rechts gegen Rechts - Germany's most involuntary donation run , which was initiated by the ZDK Society for Democratic Culture and collected donations for Exit Germany, was awarded the special prize of the German Fundraising Association . In the same year, the ZDK Society for Democratic Culture received the Central German Fundraising Prize for the campaign right against right . Exit founder Dr. Bernd Wagner, received the Federal Cross of Merit on ribbon in 2013 from Federal President Joachim Gauck.

literature

Literature review

  • The message: Former right-wing extremists in school education - an experience sketch. Dr. Berd Wagner In: Former extremists in school prevention work. Perspectives from science and practice. Bonn 2020. Available online.
  • EXIT Germany / HAYAT Germany - starting points, principles and guidelines for the activities of those who have dropped out of extremist contexts in the counter and formats of educational work. Dr. Bernd Wagner, Fabian Wichmann. EXIT-Germany 2019 (updated version October 2019). Available online.
  • Risk assessment radicalized and risk management in casework forecasting instruments and their relevance from a practical point of view. Mikhail Logvinov. Series of publications in the Center for Democratic Culture, Edition Widerschein, Berlin 2019.
  • Risk and danger assessment in dealing with politically, ideologically and religiously radical people. Mikhail Logvinov; Tabea FischerEdition Widerschein, series of publications in the Center for Democratic Culture, Berlin 2019.
  • Exit sheets - information on leaving with EXIT-Germany / quality assurance measures for exit and deradicalization . Bernd Wagner; Fabian Wichmann; Ulrike Krause; EXIT Germany 2014.
  • EXIT Germany / HAYAT Germany - starting points, principles and guidelines for the activities of those who have dropped out of extremist contexts in the counter and formats of educational work . Bernd Wagner; Fabian Wichmann. EXIT-Germany 2019 (updated version October 2019).
  • Right-wing extremism and the world of work: exits, entries, interdependencies Text: Andreas Speit
  • Last stop: Getting out of the right-wing extremist scene EXIT-Germany, Berlin June 2006 Ed. ZDK Society Democratic Culture gGmbH
  • On right-wing extremism and exit processes. Bernd Wagner , (2008): In: Focus on Democracy and Extremism (01/12), pp. 1–10.
  • First aid. Codes & symbols EXIT-Germany, Berlin 2009 Ed. ZDK Society Democratic Culture gGmbH
  • Strengthen families - against extremism and violence. Model project of the ZDK Society Democratic Culture gGmbH as part of the EXIT Germany initiative using the example of the Dahme-Spreewald district. Published by ZDK Society for Democratic Culture gGmbH, Berlin 2010
  • National death and immortality. Modern right-wing extremism in southern Brandenburg - agitation, appearance and continuity. EXIT Germany, Berlin June 2011 Ed. ZDK Society Democratic Culture gGmbH
  • Management report. Right-wing extremism in the Dahme-Spreewald district. EXIT Germany, Berlin May 2011 Ed. ZDK Society Democratic Culture gGmbH
  • Pictures of Life - The catalog EXIT-Germany , Berlin June 2012 Ed. ZDK Society Democratic Culture gGmbH
  • Tunnel light looks. From the practice of labor market-oriented exit work by the project sponsors of the XENOS special program "Exit to Entry". Ed. Ralf Melzer, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Forum Berlin, project “Against Right-Wing Extremism” - Berlin, 2012
  • Get out of right-wing extremism. Photo practice, visual analysis and exhibition work as methods of individual reflection and the acquisition of scientific and (socio) educational skills. Ulrike Pilarczyk and Fabian Wichmann (2013), in: Media Pedagogy. Journal for Theory and Practice of Media Education. Special Issue No. 23: Visual Competence.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Website of Exit Germany
  2. ↑ Netflix RealTalk on EXIT . exit-deutschland.de. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  3. ↑ EXIT Germany. Retrieved July 18, 2019 .
  4. ↑ EXIT Germany - Exits from right-wing extremism. Retrieved November 5, 2019 .
  5. ^ Anonymous: EXIT-Germany. December 6, 2016, accessed on July 18, 2019 .
  6. ↑ EXIT Germany. Retrieved July 18, 2019 .
  7. ^ Journal EXIT Germany
  8. ↑ “Exit” initiative can continue . In: Badische Zeitung , March 22, 2013.
  9. ↑ About "Live Democracy!"
  10. ↑ Felix Benneckenstein, Fabian Wichmann: Once a Nazi, always a Nazi? Work and experience of EXIT-Germany and Aussteigerhilfe Bayern in the exit support . In: Journal Exit Germany. Journal for deradicalization and democratic culture . tape 7 , no. 0 , December 20, 2018, ISSN  2196-8136 , p. 63 ( sfu.ca [accessed February 15, 2019]).
  11. ↑ Fabian Wichmann: About T-shirts and involuntarily generous neo-Nazis - successful counter-strategies in dealing with ideologies hostile to freedom . In: Journal Exit Germany. Journal for deradicalization and democratic culture . tape 5 , no. 0 , December 16, 2017, ISSN  2196-8136 , p. 92 ( sfu.ca [accessed February 15, 2019]).
  12. ↑ AME Awards: 26 German works on the shortlist . In: W&V .
  13. ^ Speech: Stand up against violent extremism
  14. ↑ Operation Trojan T-shirt
  15. ↑ Exit-Deutschland's sounds on SoundCloud - Hear the world's sounds
  16. ↑ YouTube video project Ausstieg (K) one way back
  17. ↑ EXIT Germany. Retrieved May 26, 2017 .
  18. ↑ EXIT Germany - Exits from right-wing extremism. Retrieved November 5, 2019 .
  19. ↑ "The others are us": New photo exhibition in the diesel power plant. Retrieved November 5, 2019 .
  20. ↑ Political Award 2012 for EXIT Germany
  21. ↑ Best Practice Project of the European Commission 2012
  22. ↑ Answer of the Federal Government to the small question (PDF; 101 kB)
  23. ↑ Erich Maria Remarque Peace Prize 2013
  24. ↑ It couldn't be more creative! The campaign "Right-versus-Right - Germany's most involuntary donation run" receives a special prize from the German Fundraising Association . ( Memento from June 26, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) German Fundraising Association , press release, January 27, 2015, accessed on June 26, 2016.
  25. ^ "Central German Fundraising Prize" for an original idea against the law . Evangelical Church in Central Germany , press release No. 9, March 9, 2015, accessed on June 26, 2016.
  26. ↑ Literature review. Retrieved July 23, 2017 .