A leftwing victory in Berlin shows people want freedom, and liberals cannot deliver it
Die Linke’s surge was propelled by a compelling promise: for voters to have the freedom to stay in their city. This is how to fight back against the far right
TL;DR
- Die Linke won Berlin state elections, but faces accusations that threaten coalition formation and its housing socialization promise.
- Accusations of antisemitism and extremism against Die Linke are seen as a strategy to undermine its agenda and a symptom of a deeper crisis in liberalism.
- Liberalism's focus on individual freedom and property rights makes it difficult to address economic inequality and ecological disaster, leading to policies that alienate citizens.
- The right exploits "phantom possession" by defending traditional values and national identity as if they were property, appealing to a sense of loss and entitlement.
- Centrist responses to issues like antisemitism can be "paternalistic philosemitism," defending "memory culture" as a private asset and casting critics as "plunderers."
- The left needs to offer a compelling formulation of freedom that includes the tangible freedom to stay in one's city, neighborhood, and home, moving beyond the current liberal impasse.
- This broader freedom is necessary to counter the far-right's narrative and protect vulnerable communities, as well as to address existential threats like climate change.