Key facts
- Germany's far-right AfD party is targeting the Bauhaus design school as part of its cultural campaign for the upcoming state election in Saxony-Anhalt.
- AfD officials describe Bauhaus as 'deracinated' and representative of 'globalisation', contrasting it with their vision of 'German history'.
- The AfD advocates for a 'new patriotic cultural policy' and has expressed opposition to 'anti-German art and culture'.
- The party's platform includes calls to scrap gender studies and post-colonialism courses in universities.
- The AfD is currently leading in polls for the Saxony-Anhalt election, raising concerns among cultural institutions and universities.
The historic Bauhaus design school, a symbol of modernist architecture and a social utopian project, has become a focal point in Germany's cultural landscape ahead of the September state election in Saxony-Anhalt. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is favored to win the election, has criticized Bauhaus, with spokesperson Hans-Thomas Tillschneider calling it 'deracinated' and 'the architecture of globalisation'.
Bauhaus, founded after World War One, championed the use of concrete, glass, and steel in minimalist designs that significantly influenced global architecture and domestic design. Banned by the Nazis, its sites are now UNESCO World Heritage landmarks. The AfD's critique underscores its nationalist vision, opposing mass immigration and advocating for a 'new patriotic cultural policy' aimed at restoring German self-confidence.
Barbara Steiner, director of the Bauhaus in Dessau, stated that the institution's values do not align with the AfD's interpretation of German history. The AfD's cultural program favors historical figures like medieval rulers, Martin Luther, and Otto von Bismarck, and criticizes what it deems 'anti-German art and culture,' including soulless modern architecture and state subsidies for certain artistic expressions. The party has also pointed to U.S. President Donald Trump's order promoting classical architecture for government buildings.
Despite the criticism, Tillschneider indicated that the Bauhaus institute, which receives federal, state, and municipal funding, would likely be protected under an AfD state government, stating they do not intend to 'forbid anything.' However, the party's focus on identity issues and its leading poll numbers in Saxony-Anhalt have alarmed cultural institutions and universities. The AfD has expressed a desire to scrap courses on gender studies and post-colonialism, and remove the influence of what they perceive as leftist 1960s radical teaching.
Political scientist Michael Kolkmann noted that the AfD might use Saxony-Anhalt as a 'blueprint' for other federal states. While state governments hold significant power in cultural and educational affairs, Germany's constitutional framework and the popularity of the Bauhaus museum and restored buildings in Dessau may offer some protection against radical changes. Protracted legal proceedings are also anticipated for any significant regulatory shifts.