"Conservatives Have Left the Game" | Tell Me More with Matthew Goodwin

Jun 4, 2024 | In this new Episode of "Tell Me More" British political scientist Matt Goodwin discusses the seismic shifts in British and Western politics. From the rise of right-wing populism and the disconnection of elites to the fallout of Brexit and the future of the Conservative Party, Goodwin offers an analysis of current political dynamics. He explains to Jochen Bittner why he believes the counter-revolution against the new elite is stronger than ever and what this means for the future of democracy.

I wish political analysts would stop talking about "Islamism". This is a term made up by Westerners. No self-respecting Muslim would refer to an Islamist! This distinction between Islam and Islamism is being made so as not to put Islam in a bad light; so, Islamism is supposed to be radical and political Islam, whereas Islam is supposed to be the religion. Fact is, however, that anyone who understands anything about Islam knows that Islam is nothing if not political. In fact, Islam is more political than it is spiritual! Even the Ayatollah Khomeini said — correctly as it happens — that Islam is nothing if not political. What people are referring to when they speak of Islamists is Muslims who take their faith seriously and follow the way(s) of their prophet — the Sunnah. Islam is actually winning in the West because Westerners refuse to accept and acknowledge the true nature of Islam, probably out of fear. – © Mark Alexander

Glenn Greenwald in Berlin: Talk with ‘Die Zeit’ (2014)

Merkel's Ukip Warning to German Voters

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Angela Merkel’s conservatives issued a strong warning to German voters not to support a fast-rising eurosceptic party in Sunday’s election, highlighting the growing popularity of Ukip in Britain as an example not to be followed.

The Chancellor’s Christian Democrats (CDU), which had deliberately ignored the small Alternative fuer Deutschland (AfD) so far in the campaign, deployed one of their most respected figures to rip into the new party.

Wolfgang Schaeuble, the veteran finance minister, said anti-European Union sentiment threatened the region’s progress.

“These people claim: 'We’d be better off economically without the euro’,” he told the weekly Die Zeit. “That claim is totally wrong, has no credibility and is extremely dangerous for our prosperity.”

Referring to Ukip, whose rise has been well noted in Germany, he continued: “In the UK there is a political movement with a high degree of euroscepticism. In France, many fear that at the European elections the National Front will be the strongest party. I am thankful that we in Germany, perhaps because of our history, are a little cautious of demagoguery and right-leaning ideas.”

Mr Schäuble added: “I don’t have any time for these people who seem to be trapped in the past. Anyone who starts, like the AfD, with stoking fears towards Europe, quickly moves towards stoking fears of immigrants.” » | Jeevan Vasagar in Berlin | Wednesday, September 18, 2013