Key facts
- The Bauhaus school is a symbol in a culture war in Germany.
- This is happening ahead of state elections in Saxony-Anhalt.
- The far-right AfD party is favored to win the election.
- The AfD criticizes Bauhaus as 'deracination'.
- The AfD criticizes Bauhaus as 'architecture of globalisation'.
The influential Bauhaus school of design has become a focal point in a cultural conflict in Germany, particularly as state elections approach in Saxony-Anhalt. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is currently favored to win the election in Saxony-Anhalt, has publicly criticized the Bauhaus movement. AfD politicians have characterized Bauhaus architecture as a symbol of 'deracination' and the 'architecture of globalization.' This rhetoric positions Bauhaus as an undesirable element, contrasting with the AfD's nationalist agenda. The targeting of this significant cultural institution reflects a broader ideological struggle within Germany, with the AfD leveraging cultural symbols to appeal to its base and challenge established norms ahead of the critical state election. The debate underscores the political weaponization of art and architecture in contemporary German politics.