It feels like the social order is crumbling in Germany

I’ve been in and out of Germany a lot in recent months, and it’s hard not to gain the impression that its society is falling apart at the seams. Wherever you go, there seem to be angry political rallies and street protests. The news is full of violent attacks on politicians and activists. The fear is of a resurgence of far-right sentiments nearly eight decades after the fall of the Nazi regime. The concept of irrational German angst has become a bit of a cliche over the years, but this time the threats to social cohesion feel very real. 

The latest incident to shock the country happened on Friday when an activist was stabbed in the face in broad daylight. Michael Stürzenberger of the anti-Islam group Citizens’ Movement Pax Europa was about to speak at the market square of the southwestern city of Mannheim when he was attacked.