Ready for the Opportunity
Last year, elections were held in France, the USA, the Netherlands, and Austria, now in Germany. Wolfgang Held spoke with Gerald Häfner.
WH: Do you think the elections show an overall worrying picture?
GH: They worry me because our democratic societies are at risk of breaking down. Democracy is built on creating a space where different points of view meet and change in order to reach decisions that are supported by as many people as possible. This space for discussion is eroding. Political forces that build up images of the enemy are gaining weight. The relentlessness with which people are arguing these days concerns me.
Is there a sublimated fear behind this anger?
The world is changing its face. This engenders fear. What begins as fear often ends in anger, especially if we’re not conscious of the fear and its call to transform ourselves. Enduring it takes strength. When I manage to get to the bottom of this fear in myself, I develop the courage to act. Anger is the opposite of courage; anger reveals weakness, a flight from fear. Anger is directed at others—without being re-forged through self-knowledge. Anger needs an object: the (supposedly) guilty parties. This is a highly dangerous game that many actors have mastered. The exploitation of anger has become a lucrative business.
What can help against such fears?
The key lies in the heart, in the soul of each individual. Especially in politics, where we’re often on frosty terrain; the moment when warmth can arise is what’s important. That’s when we have solid ground. All of a sudden, we encounter something in the other person that we can trust. Then, joint decisions become possible. Almost all the motions I introduced into Parliament have been interparty motions. I approached people running on a different platform because it was clear to me that if we could find agreement, it could last—in Parliament and society. We can and must always find this humanity in others, where relationships become possible and sustainable. It has become more difficult in politics today because we literally come together less often. Too many encounters take place virtually now. We can get a quick picture this way—but we can’t build a bridge.
This text is an excerpt from an article published in the (online exclusive) Goetheanum Weekly. You can read the full article on the website. If you are not yet a subscriber, you can get to know the Goetheanum Weekly for 1 CHF./€.
Photo Plenary chamber of the German Bundestag. CC BY 3.0.