On October 21, 2024, the Faculty of Social Sciences at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences hosted an all-day event on the (social) educational approach to right-wing extremism in cooperation with the Federal Agency for Civic Education. The focus was on the documentary play "The NSU Monologues" by director Michael Ruf, which tells the stories of three families whose relatives were murdered by the NSU. The play provides intimate insights into their long-standing struggle for justice and the recognition of the truth - sometimes gently, sometimes demanding.
Following the performance, participants were able to choose between two themed workshops. These tied in with the content of the play and highlighted relevant issues for (social) educational practice and the situation in the region. The workshops dealt with the topics "Youth work after the NSU" and "Right-wing scene in the region".
The workshop on youth work after the NSU, led by Lisa Bendiek and Miryam Marouhm from Kulturbüro Sachsen e.V., was initially dedicated to input on educational work in two specific youth clubs: one that the NSU core trio regularly attended in Jena and another in Chemnitz, where they later lived. Although it is unclear whether the NSU members frequented the Chemnitz club themselves, it is known that right-wing extremist youths had access to it. These developments pose considerable challenges for educational work in the facilities concerned. A particular focus was placed on the controversial approach of accepting youth work, which was discussed in the workshop, as well as on the framework conditions that make educational work more difficult. The event was supplemented by a silent discussion and further input on the topic of racial profiling, which gave the participants additional food for thought.
At the same time, a workshop on the right-wing scene in East Saxony was held, led by Doro Schneider(Augen auf e.V.) and Felix Pankonin(Hillersche Villa). A short introductory round was followed by a critical examination and classification of the concept of extremism and the horseshoe model in particular. The workshop leaders then provided an informative overview of right-wing structures in eastern Saxony. Symbolism and supposedly harmless practices were analyzed and explained in more detail in the context of the underlying national-ethnic world view. The comprehensive practical expertise of the workshop leaders and the diverse perspectives of the participants enriched the event and created plenty of space for exchange and discussion.
The event offered all participants a valuable opportunity to deal intensively with the consequences of the NSU terror, its consequences for (social) educational practice and the challenges of dealing with right-wing extremism.
