On the other hand, politicians who even recently tried to play down the problem have been portraying themselves as firm opponents of the far right. Apart from that, there is no idea of what to do. This is incomprehensible, for the list of possible measures is so long that it would be impossible to number them. Above all, far too little attention has been paid to the principle that the state and society must combat right-wing extremism with a twin strategy on the one hand with repression and symbolic acts, and on the other with measures aimed at bringing about lasting change in the public climate, in policy on aliens, in education. To call for civil courage is right, but it is not enough.
Civil courage stems from the individual citizen, right-wing violence from groups.
But wherever Nazis can credibly threaten revenge, the prime responsibility must lie with the state for instance in many areas of eastern Germany. Since 1990 the police and politicians there have ignored the right-wing extremists as they never would have tolerated the Left. The extremists have gradually gained ground and established themselves as a normal part of society. The state gave way, now it must recover territory. And that must be the first item on any agenda for the fight against the Nazis.