Fromm's Contribution to the Analysis and Critique of the Ongoing Rise of Right-Wing Movements - Erich-Fromm-Gesellschaft
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Property of the Erich Fromm Document Center. For personal use only. Citation or publication of material pro-
hibited without express written permission of the copyright holder.
Eigentum des Erich Fromm Dokumentationszentrums. Nutzung nur für persönliche Zwecke. Veröffentlichungen
– auch von Teilen – bedürfen der schriftlichen Erlaubnis des Rechteinhabers.
Ehnis_P_Voigt_K_2019
Fromm's Contribution to the Analysis and Critique
of the Ongoing Rise of Right-Wing Movements
Patrick Ehnis and Katrin Voigt
„Fromm's Contribution to the Analysis and Critique of the Ongoing Rise of Right-Wing
Movements“, in: Fromm Forum (English Edition – ISSN 1437-1189), 23 / 2019 (Special Edi-
tion), Tuebingen (Selbstverlag), pp. 138-152.
Copyright © 2019 by Dr. Patrick Ehnis, D-28309 Bremen, E-Mail: patrick.ehnis[at-
symbol]ipu-berlin.de; Copyright © 2019 by Katrin Voigt M.A., IPU-Berlin, E-Mail:
katrin.voigt[at-symbol]ipu-berlin.de.
Abstract: One of the most important national identities are at work behind right-
political changes in Europe, the USA wing movements in different countries (cf.
and beyond is the growth of national- Wiegel 2018, Minkenberg 2011, Kühn
istic parties and authoritarian struc- 2015).
tures within states. This contribution
At the same time, it is obvious that the
aims to demonstrate how a Frommian
success of right-wing nationalism is not on-
perspective on basic psychological
ly a phenomenon of a specific nation nor a
needs, asynchronicity and alienation
specific group of people within this nation,
could contribute to a social-
but—if we look at Europe and the USA—is
psychological understanding of na-
a concept with which one is able to win
tionalistic trends. At the end of the
elections, and therefore is often supported
paper, we present some conclusions
by the majority of the prevailing society.
drawn from this social-psychological
Trump in the USA, Erdogan in Turkey, Putin
point of view concerning the develop-
in Russia, Orbán in Hungary, PiS in Poland,
ment of a sane society.
Brexit in the UK, AFD and PEGIDA in Ger-
Keywords: Erich Fromm, nationalism, many, Lega Nord in Italy, Le Pen in
right wing movements, social change, France—are all examples of such global
alienation, sane society. tendencies of nationalism and many times
of violent and hateful exclusion of the con-
The rise of right-wing movements and au- structed stranger.
thoritarian structures within states is one This transnational phenomenon seems to
of the most significant contemporary reflect, apart from all specific reasons, a
changes in Europe, the USA and beyond. To general unease of ongoing social change in
explain the success of right-wing move- contemporary societies. In order to under-
ments and parties, country-specific reasons stand it in-depth, within this article, I argue
can be found. As many authors rightly that it is very useful to look at three mainly
point out, very different phenomena and social-psychological concepts of Erich
page/Seite 1 of/von 12
Ehnis, P., Voigt, K., 2019
Fromm's Contribution to the Analysis and Critique
of the Ongoing Rise of Right-Wing MovementsProperty of the Erich Fromm Document Center. For personal use only. Citation or publication of material pro-
hibited without express written permission of the copyright holder.
Eigentum des Erich Fromm Dokumentationszentrums. Nutzung nur für persönliche Zwecke. Veröffentlichungen
– auch von Teilen – bedürfen der schriftlichen Erlaubnis des Rechteinhabers.
Fromm. it is conducive.« (Fromm 1960b, p. 30.)
(1) The understanding of nationalism as a In line with Fromm, one can certainly add,
satisfaction of the psychological basic that the theory and praxis of every social
need for relatedness, belonging and system, not only socialism, should be ex-
rootedness. amined regarding the relationships be-
(2) The concept of asynchronicity between tween human beings produced by the sys-
social-economic development with tem. This is an important addition to classi-
modern value orientation and tradi- cal inequality research, since, first and
tional social character in today's socie- foremost, it is not about economic growth
ty. or who owns something, nor is it about
(3) The experiences of alienation as a re- whether this is fair or not, but it is about
sult of late-capitalist modernity. Here I what kind of sane or pathological relation-
would like to discuss feelings of anxie- ships to oneself, to others or to the world
ty, powerlessness and indifference. one is likely to have in different social cir-
cumstances. The human being, according
In this paper, we will introduce these three
to the German sociologist Hartmut Rosa
concepts and show the actuality of Fromms
(2018), and his or her relationship to the
approach by using current scientific re-
world are put in the center of the analysis.
search (mainly from Germany). At the end
of this paper, we present some conclu- Putting the analysis of human relations into
sions, which can be drawn from this social- the center of the analysis of social struc-
psychological point of view concerning the tures is a specific quality of Fromm’s. Fol-
development of a sane society. lowing Fromm's tradition, the following
question is of importance: What are the
To start with, it is important to explain the
(institutional) relationship structures one
basic approach of Erich Fromm when it
has to oneself, to others and to nature,
comes to the analysis of societies. Fromm
which support a return or as, Zygmunt
postulates that one always has to look at
Baumann (2017) says, an orientation to-
human relations, which are fostered by the
wards »Retrotopia,« towards modern ver-
prevailing society, when analyzing societies
sions of old nationalist concepts?
and their changes.
In the manifesto Let Man Prevail: A Social- 1. The satisfaction of the psychological
ist Manifesto and Program, which Fromm basic need
wrote in 1960 as part of his engagement in
Fromm's first observation is that the orien-
the SP-SDF (Socialist Party-Social Demo-
tation towards nationalism is a reaction to,
cratic Federation) in the US, he stated:
as Fromm calls it, the »human condition«
»Every social and economic system is which consists of the fact that the human
not only a specific system of relations being is a part of nature but also is not.
between things and institutions, but a Human beings have to reflect on their own
system of human relations. Any con- actions and need to establish their own
cept and practice of socialism must be meaning of life, and find their own ways to
examined in terms of the kind of rela- establish identity and relatedness. To put it
tions between human beings to which in Fromm's words: »Man is the only animal
page/Seite 2 of/von 12
Ehnis, P., Voigt, K., 2019
Fromm's Contribution to the Analysis and Critique
of the Ongoing Rise of Right-Wing MovementsProperty of the Erich Fromm Document Center. For personal use only. Citation or publication of material pro-
hibited without express written permission of the copyright holder.
Eigentum des Erich Fromm Dokumentationszentrums. Nutzung nur für persönliche Zwecke. Veröffentlichungen
– auch von Teilen – bedürfen der schriftlichen Erlaubnis des Rechteinhabers.
who finds his own existence a problem nant nationalism is a simple one: through
which he has to solve and from which he the devaluation of the other, one's own
cannot escape.« (Fromm 1955a, p. 24.) value can be increased without effort.
From this point of view, we are experienc-
To deal with this situation is, in Fromm's
ing at the moment the rebirth of a malig-
sense, the universal human necessity. Ac-
nant manifestation of nationalism, includ-
cording to Fromm, nationalism is one form
ing explicit xenophobia.
to establish the basic psychological need of
rootedness and a sense of belonging (cf. In Europe there is a new right-wing move-
Fromm 1955a, pp. 38 ff.). In »The Sane So- ment called »die Identitären«—The Identi-
ciety« Fromm indicates: »The average man tarian. Identity here means literally to be-
today obtains his sense of identity from his come one with ones »own« ethnic group
belonging to a nation, rather than from his and »own« culture. The supposed princi-
being a ›son of man‹« (Fromm 1955a, ples of the »own« ethnic group and the in-
p. 58). dividual should merge, so to speak. Their
symbol is a Lamda, which refers to the
As we know from Benedict Anderson and
shield of Sparta's warriors who defended
others, nation is an imagined community
their people against the Roman Imperium.
(cf. Anderson 1988; Kühn 2015, p. 107). If
This example shows two characteristics of
you ask a nationalist to characterize mem-
the symbolic politics of right-wing populism
bers of his group, they will name criteria
in general: they represent themselves to be
that seem arbitrary, but positive with re-
a fighter for their »own« homogeneously
gard to the group. Surprisingly often, it
imagined culture and to act in self-defense
does not matter if one really behaves with-
as a victim of aggressive strangers. If an
in the defined categories as long as one
identification with one's nation, culture or
does not doubt the whole story of national
ethnic group takes place in this way, it will
glory and can identify oneself with the na-
be directly connected to one's own emo-
tional values as the ideal ones. They may
tions. Thus, if for example the national glo-
name »blond, intelligent, beautiful, strong
ry is called into question, it will also be
and disciplined« as a criteria, or even
seen as an attack on one's own identity
»democratic, orientated on equality and
and it will lead to aggressive reactions.
rational.« But it is basically this same prin-
ciple; Nationalism is not a descriptive cate- Fromm marks this as a regressive way to
gory, but always goes hand in hand with a establish relatedness to oneself, to others
claim of »how to be.« and to the world (cf. Fromm 1955a,
pp. 58 f.). In the end, it (this regressive
Certainly, it matters, which one of the
way) not only damages one's relations to
many possible variations of nationalism is
others (to the »strangers«) but also keeps
developing. Erich Fromm himself distin-
one dependent. Self-esteem is easy to de-
guishes between malignant and benign na-
stabilize as long as it builds on the group
tionalism (cf. Fromm 1964a, p. 77 ff.). The
and is not based on the development of
latter refers to its own efforts and merits,
one's own abilities. In Fromm's eyes, peo-
while the former asserts the natural supe-
ple act like a child that does not want to
riority of its own nation, culture or ethnic
become an adult. »This incestuous fixation
group. The psychological effect of malig-
page/Seite 3 of/von 12
Ehnis, P., Voigt, K., 2019
Fromm's Contribution to the Analysis and Critique
of the Ongoing Rise of Right-Wing MovementsProperty of the Erich Fromm Document Center. For personal use only. Citation or publication of material pro-
hibited without express written permission of the copyright holder.
Eigentum des Erich Fromm Dokumentationszentrums. Nutzung nur für persönliche Zwecke. Veröffentlichungen
– auch von Teilen – bedürfen der schriftlichen Erlaubnis des Rechteinhabers.
not only poisons the relationship of the in- have to do. Simultaneously, the social
dividual to the stranger, but to the mem- character influences the socioeconom-
bers of his own clan and to himself.« ic structure of society, acting either as
(Fromm 1955a, p. 58.) cement to give further stability to the
social structure or, under special cir-
In this way, with Fromm we can make an
cumstances, as dynamite that tends to
ambivalent diagnosis: on the one hand, na-
break up the social structure.« (Fromm
tionalism is a social-psychological phenom-
1976a, pp. 133 f.)
enon to establish self-esteem by harming
others and oneself and keeping oneself The function of the social character is two-
dependent, narrow-minded and anxious. fold: on the one hand, individuals are able
On the other hand, humans are social be- to satisfy their basic needs by adapting to
ings who need a sense of relatedness and social requirements; on the other hand, so-
rootedness that in one way can be satisfied ciety is able to unfold its productive forces
by nationalism. From this perspective, the due to the appropriateness of the individu-
rise of right-wing populism can also been als. As long as both social as well as indi-
seen as a sign that contemporary societies vidual needs are fulfilled, the structure is
have failed to provide spaces and re- consolidated (cf. Fromm 1941a, p. 282).
sources for emotional cohesion, care and But social change during the last decades
solidarity between independent and at the seems to cause an asynchronicity between
same time social, and therefore interde- social-economic development with modern
pendent, human beings. Erich Fromm of- value orientations and former hegemonic
fers here a second in-depth analysis, which traditional social characters. In recent
seems central to explain the phenomenon years, economic globalization and social
of rising right-wing movements. change has challenged the basic institu-
tions of modernity—as Ulrich Beck (et al
The concept of a-synchronicity within so- 2004, pp. 32 ff.) calls them: The heterosex-
cial change ual nuclear family, the male-dominated
A very modern thought in Fromm's work, normal standard employment contract and
and later strongly represented by sociolo- the nation-state.
gists such as Bourdieu or Foucault, is the Even if those have not disappeared, they
idea that modern societies legitimize their have at least been weakened. Gender and
hierarchical structures with the inner relationships become more diverse, work-
agreement of most members of the socie- ing life becomes fragmented and in some
ty. In Fromm's understanding, it is the so- respects more insecure (fewer jobs are de-
cial character, which manages adjustment termined by collective wage agreements,
between the individual and society. more people working part-time, more sub-
»I call the blending of the individual contracted workers, etc.) and the national
psychical sphere and the socioeco- ability to control its own work structures
nomic structure social character. The seems to get lost by being embedded into
socioeconomic structure of a society global and European affairs as well as in-
molds the social character of its mem- ternational financial markets.
bers so that they wish to do what they More important in our context is the feel-
page/Seite 4 of/von 12
Ehnis, P., Voigt, K., 2019
Fromm's Contribution to the Analysis and Critique
of the Ongoing Rise of Right-Wing MovementsProperty of the Erich Fromm Document Center. For personal use only. Citation or publication of material pro-
hibited without express written permission of the copyright holder.
Eigentum des Erich Fromm Dokumentationszentrums. Nutzung nur für persönliche Zwecke. Veröffentlichungen
– auch von Teilen – bedürfen der schriftlichen Erlaubnis des Rechteinhabers.
ing many have that the old values and ide- bonds lets people fight for the nation state
as about how to live are losing institutional and against everyone they regard as a
weight. Value-based, normative state regu- threat. Recent research seems to confirm
lations, e.g. concerning different family this perspective. According to quantitative
constellations and sexual orientation were analyses, the sociologist Holger Lengfeld
relativized or completely abolished in law. comes to the conclusion that class varia-
Values such as diversity, flexibility, a cer- bles (such as income and education) have
tain kind of multiculturalism and cosmopol- hardly any direct influence on the approval
itan habitus have become guiding princi- ratings of the AFD in Germany (cf. Lengfeld
ples and important subjective orientations. 2017). Rather, he emphasizes that there
Such values also fit better to export- are AFD voters in all strata. He stated that
oriented, global operating companies. their anger feeds on cultural disappoint-
Fromm's concept of asynchronicity regains ment. It is not primarily the economically
importance in today's society. The dissatis- dependent who are currently rebelling in
faction about the needs inherent in the Germany (and elsewhere), but, above all,
traditional social character orientations those »culturally dependent« (ibid., p. 3)
leads to many people becoming more and who realize that their orientations are los-
more dissatisfied with the existing condi- ing their institutional weight.
tions, and the needs anchored in the char-
In a qualitative study with potential AFD
acter change from a cohesive to a disinte-
voters Wakenhut and Vogt come to a simi-
grating element that threatens the existing
lar understanding: »Values that are par-
society (cf. Fromm 1992e [1937],
ticularly emphasized in modern, globalized
pp. 63 ff.).
societies were not considered relevant by
Through this Frommian perspective of any of the participants.« (Wakenhut and
asynchronicity, one can partly understand Vogt 2017.) They conclude that this feeds
the disturbing increase of nationalistic the increasing dissatisfaction with the soci-
movements. At this moment in history, na- etal development.
tionalist movements are gaining ground,
Based on data from the European Social
paradoxically because some of the nation-
Survey 2002–2014, focusing on an analysis
alists' ideologies are in conflict with the
of the election decisions for populist par-
current social-economic development and
ties in Europe, Inglehart and Norris (2016)
a new understanding of values within eco-
conclude that the rejection of certain cul-
nomically and politically ascending groups.
tural processes such as changing gender re-
In this sense, we come to understand that
lations, openness to multiculturalism and
there is not a rising number of people who
cosmopolitanism are crucial to the emer-
turn to nationalism, but rather those peo-
gence of right-wing parties. »This perspec-
ple participating in nationalistic move-
tive emphasizes the popularity of a long-
ments have always believed in the nation-
term process of value change, the ›silent
state.
revolution', which has transformed West-
In various places on the globe, the human ern cultures during the late twentieth cen-
need of social relatedness and the fear of tury« (Inglehart and Norris 2016, p. 13).
losing the old nationally structured social
Koppetsch (2017) states that it is not just
page/Seite 5 of/von 12
Ehnis, P., Voigt, K., 2019
Fromm's Contribution to the Analysis and Critique
of the Ongoing Rise of Right-Wing MovementsProperty of the Erich Fromm Document Center. For personal use only. Citation or publication of material pro-
hibited without express written permission of the copyright holder.
Eigentum des Erich Fromm Dokumentationszentrums. Nutzung nur für persönliche Zwecke. Veröffentlichungen
– auch von Teilen – bedürfen der schriftlichen Erlaubnis des Rechteinhabers.
cultural disappointment, but primarily the tation towards economic success and effi-
feeling of belonging to a descending social ciency and leads to treating and feeling
group that loses privileges and enjoys less oneself and each other as more or less val-
and less social recognition, which leads to uable goods, which is in a Frommian per-
the support of right-wing movements. spective a non-productive, alienated way
to relate to oneself, others or the world.
»Those with an outmoded habitus do
Human beings lose contact to themselves,
not believe in a better societal future,
their »own« emotions, longings, plans and
but look to the glories of bygone
abilities and they become more and more
times, to the former order, the former
driven to permanently optimize themselves
position, whose relevance is often
to be well placed in the market. The Ger-
equated by many supporters of right-
man sociologist Hartmut Rosa (2012) ar-
wing populism with the meaning of
gues that experience of alienation increas-
their own nation. Their own decline
es in western societies today, as the gap
and the decline of the economic pow-
between the claim to lead an autonomous
er and glory of their own country seem
and authentic life and the possibility to do
to be inseparable.« (Koppetsch 2017,
so grows.
p. 227.)
In »Escape from Freedom,« Erich Fromm
This leads to the third analytic category of
writes after he presented the liberating ef-
Fromm.
fects of capitalism on modern people:
The experiences of alienation »Freedom, though it has brought him in-
dependence and rationality, has made him
According to the above, it may seem as if isolated and, thereby, anxious and power-
globalized capitalism would go hand-in- less.« (Fromm 1941a, p. x.) Feelings of anx-
hand with values like creativity, spontanei- iety, powerlessness and indifference, in
ty, self-fulfillment and tolerance, while this sense, seem very important to explain
some people with their social character the success of nationalism. Fromm pointed
orientations remain in the era of post war out that these three feelings are embed-
boom nationalism. While to a certain point ded in our social and economic structures.
this seems accurate, it still rests an insuffi- People internalize them and they become
cient explanation. part of their psychic structure and basis for
Rather, market processes were and still are interaction with other humans.
intensified in many ways. They, on the one
hand, were accompanied by a relative in- Anxiety
difference towards traditional values and Contrary to the hegemonic ideology, even
so allowed more diversity in lifestyles, on late modern capitalism continues to oper-
the other hand, being financially successful ate mainly with existential anxiety as the
became more and more the only bench- main driving force for gainful employment.
mark of life. In this way what Erich Fromm In Germany, the fear of sliding down the
has described as a marketing character ori- social ladder increased with neoliberal re-
entation (cf. Fromm 1947a, pp. 67 ff.; Funk forms of the welfare state in the 2000s.
1995, pp. 34–41) is socially consolidated. The reforms should have helped to estab-
Above all, this is characterized by an orien- lish a low-wage market-sector, but they
page/Seite 6 of/von 12
Ehnis, P., Voigt, K., 2019
Fromm's Contribution to the Analysis and Critique
of the Ongoing Rise of Right-Wing MovementsProperty of the Erich Fromm Document Center. For personal use only. Citation or publication of material pro-
hibited without express written permission of the copyright holder.
Eigentum des Erich Fromm Dokumentationszentrums. Nutzung nur für persönliche Zwecke. Veröffentlichungen
– auch von Teilen – bedürfen der schriftlichen Erlaubnis des Rechteinhabers.
were introduced under slogans such as Powerlessness
empowerment and emancipation through
Erich Fromm pointed out that the feeling of
gainful employment. This led to a paradox:
powerlessness is a common experience for
on the one hand, authentic autonomy
subjects within authoritarian states. And
within gainful employment can be seen as
even in a democracy, the ideal of demo-
the highest social ideal, on the other hand,
cratic participation diverges from the reali-
fear and pressure are still the basic tools to
ty, where the individual is separated from
motivate people. In reality, it is becoming
the centers of political and economic pow-
even more difficult for many to believe
er. From a Frommian perspective the sen-
that their job is a suitable and meaningful
sation of powerlessness, the impression
activity, or to achieve a job with sufficient
that »those up there do what they want
economic income. To picture this, the soci-
to« is not abstract but tied to the experi-
ologist Oliver Nachtwey uses the image of
ences of the majority, not least in their
an escalator, which for large part of the
everyday work in hierarchical organizations
population is beginning to descend. Many
(cf. Fromm 1960b; Fromm 1941a,
people have to make much more effort to
pp. 273 f.).
stay at the same level (cf. Nachtwey 2016).
Production of goods and services happens
The fear of the potentially rapid social de-
in organizations where the majority of em-
cline in the modernized welfare state also
ployees, according to operational or tariff
leaves the middle classes in particular open
regulations, have nothing or little to de-
to nationalistic ideologies, which claim to
cide. It is normal to follow the orders from
be able to save the welfare state by limit-
the top, because one's own existence de-
ing it to German nationals as much as pos-
pends on the good will of the supervisor.
sible. According to a qualitative study by
Moreover, one can legitimize one’s own
the Hans Böckler Institute »concerns about
actions by referring to the hierarchical
the reliability of one's own employment fu-
structure of decision making within the or-
ture« (Hilmer et. al 2017, p. 7) can be used
ganization. The supervisors and managers
in Germany as a driving force by national-
themselves can refer to an anonymous
istic movements. Hence, Hannah Arendt's
power: the market, the constant competi-
observation gets new actuality, that there
tion and the necessity to make a profit.
is nothing worse for a society based on la-
Seemingly, human beings are not responsi-
bour markets than that it runs out of work
ble for any decision concerning the »who,
(Arendt 1958). The potential increase in ef-
what, when and how«-questions of the
ficiency due to digitalization 4.0, which is
production process. In Fromm's view, this
increasingly present in public discussions,
lack of democratization, especially in eco-
can thus offer no perspective with regard
nomic production processes, leads people
to liberation from the compulsion to work,
to the sensation of being powerless in eve-
but at least in some parts of the popula-
ryday life.
tion, it creates one thing above all: the fear
of being left behind in the future. In their qualitative analyses Wakenhut and
Faus (2017) find out that, the loss of trust
in social actors (like managers, politicians
and journalists) is typical for AFD voters in
page/Seite 7 of/von 12
Ehnis, P., Voigt, K., 2019
Fromm's Contribution to the Analysis and Critique
of the Ongoing Rise of Right-Wing MovementsProperty of the Erich Fromm Document Center. For personal use only. Citation or publication of material pro-
hibited without express written permission of the copyright holder.
Eigentum des Erich Fromm Dokumentationszentrums. Nutzung nur für persönliche Zwecke. Veröffentlichungen
– auch von Teilen – bedürfen der schriftlichen Erlaubnis des Rechteinhabers.
Germany. The skepticism towards estab- serve for the gratification of concrete hu-
lished, democratic mandate holders and man needs. That is one reason why half of
the media, as well as the feeling that no- all food in the world ends up at the gar-
body can understand the more and more bage dump instead of in a belly (cf.
complex society, increase the desire of Süddeutsche Zeitung 2013). For global
many to live under authoritarian leaders, economic contexts, sociologist Stefan
who set and enforce simple guidelines. At Lessenich (2016) described this as an ex-
the same time, nationalist ideologies can ternalization-habitus, meaning that the
create feelings of superiority and power Western world can and wants to outsource
that counteract the feeling of powerless- the costs of its way of life to the global
ness. south, while at the same time, being indif-
ferent to concrete living and working con-
Indifference ditions there.
Even Erich Fromm describes indifference as The common principle to attach greater
a central problem of modern societies importance to the functioning of systems
(Fromm 1991e [1953], p. 67 f.), again pri- than to concrete human suffering has an
marily (but not only) based on the capital- enormous influence on our consciousness.
ist production principle. »It is obvious that It makes us somehow indifferent to con-
the relationship between competitors has crete human destiny: we know how our
to be based on mutual human indifference. jeans are produced, but we buy them any-
Otherwise any one of them would be para- way, we see that people drown in the
lyzed in the fulfillment of his economic Mediterranean, but we do nothing to stop
tasks—to fight each other and not to re- it, because otherwise the system would no
frain from the actual economic destruction longer work. We see hunger in the world
of each other if necessary.« (Fromm 1941a, and yet food must be destroyed in order to
p. 118.) In my own analysis of interviews regulate its value. We see global inequality
with managers, I was able to show that of poverty and income, but rest idle, be-
learning to be tough on oneself (and oth- cause otherwise, the system may lose effi-
ers) is described as an important lesson to ciency. We see the effects of climate
reach higher managerial positions in com- change but it is hard to do anything against
panies (cf. Ehnis 2014). it because the system works as it does and
Furthermore, production and distribution we need economic growth and so on.
are not primarily orientated to the needs From a Frommian perspective it can be
of individuals, nor to universal physiologi- said: Positions of indifference, fear and
cal needs like nutrition or sleep. Rather, powerlessness are deeply embedded in
the principle »goods for money« is of high- Western capitalist societies and can be par-
er value than the need of individuals e.g. to ticularly activated for nationalism in times
satisfy their hunger. A violation of this of asynchronicity. It is, among other things,
principle would undermine the whole pro- these feelings that guide the process of
duction system and endanger its efficiency. »group narcissism« (Fromm 1964a) and
In the end, nothing would function any- promote the feeling of relatedness and
more. Goods need to be sold. Non-sold rootedness through the construct of a »na-
goods need to be destroyed and cannot
page/Seite 8 of/von 12
Ehnis, P., Voigt, K., 2019
Fromm's Contribution to the Analysis and Critique
of the Ongoing Rise of Right-Wing MovementsProperty of the Erich Fromm Document Center. For personal use only. Citation or publication of material pro-
hibited without express written permission of the copyright holder.
Eigentum des Erich Fromm Dokumentationszentrums. Nutzung nur für persönliche Zwecke. Veröffentlichungen
– auch von Teilen – bedürfen der schriftlichen Erlaubnis des Rechteinhabers.
tional identity.« perative.« (Fromm 1966c, p. 2) Nowadays,
the idea to liberate humans from exist-
Towards a sane world society? ence-threatening conditions is still worth
Humanistic solutions seem complicated in fighting for. However, they have to be
comparison to the simple nationalist nos- global regulations and they should lead to
talgic efforts. And it is also clear that solu- a redistribution of income and property
tions cannot be developed on the rostrum, from the global north to the global south.
but as Katrin Voigt has worked out (cf. the In consequence, a democratization of mar-
following contribution), that the struggle kets by harmonized global income is pref-
for a new common ground is task of every- erable. The enormous discrepancy of glob-
day practice and this practice requires an al income and property is not only eco-
ongoing critical discussion. Nevertheless, nomically unfair, but also unfair in ques-
we would also like to put some guidelines tions of participation in a global society:
for discussion with thoughts from Erich Who can and who should decide about the
Fromm: The first principle would be the development of the world?
need for a strong narrative of solidarity Another significant step for Fromm is the
based on the fact that all human beings are shift of liberty from e.g. existential fear,
placed in the same—as Fromm calls it— towards liberty to develop human abilities
»human situation« and mutually recognize (cf. Fromm 1965c, p. 220). Fromm sees the
each other in this fundamental sense as key for the shift primarily in forms of par-
equals without denying differences, social ticipation and democratization especially in
inequality and different social positions (cf. the field of labour. In general, Fromm ar-
Fromm 1964a, pp. 319–321). A humanistic gued that the redirection of production
search for solutions, if conducted in a com- from private to public infrastructures is
prehensive way, could offer the potential necessary to enable everyone to benefit in
to give many a sense of belonging through their productive human development.
a common reflection and practice on the
»A vast change in industry from the
way we want to be in the world.
production of commodities for indi-
Politically, Erich Fromm saw advantageous vidual consumption to the production
conditions for a productive, human devel- of commodities for public use: schools,
opment mainly within a two-fold approach: theaters, libraries, parks, hospitals,
A first step should liberate humans from public transportation, housing; in oth-
existence-threatening conditions of work er words an emphasis on the produc-
and life. The cornerstones of his arguments tion of those things that are the basis
were a guaranteed basic income or free for the unfolding of the individual's in-
food and housing. Furthermore, he argued ner productiveness and activity.«
for a reduction in working hours to reduce (Fromm 1966c, p. 4.)
the time spent in alienating gainful em-
Very important in this sense is the possibil-
ployment. »A further effect of a guaran-
ity to get education, to be able to use a
teed income, coupled with greatly dimin-
(health) care system, the right of free
ished working hours for all, would be that
speech and the democratization of gainful
the spiritual and religious problems of hu-
employment. The participation in produc-
man existence would become real and im-
page/Seite 9 of/von 12
Ehnis, P., Voigt, K., 2019
Fromm's Contribution to the Analysis and Critique
of the Ongoing Rise of Right-Wing MovementsProperty of the Erich Fromm Document Center. For personal use only. Citation or publication of material pro-
hibited without express written permission of the copyright holder.
Eigentum des Erich Fromm Dokumentationszentrums. Nutzung nur für persönliche Zwecke. Veröffentlichungen
– auch von Teilen – bedürfen der schriftlichen Erlaubnis des Rechteinhabers.
tion, in Fromm's view, is not the same as was certain that the human, striving for
nationalization, expropriation or equality liberty and solidarity, only by institutional
of income. Rather, democratic processes support obtained a strong hegemonical so-
are important forces towards the produc- cial character. Inversely, humans striving
tive development of human values, re- for liberty are needed to construct the
sponsibility and against the feeling of pow- structures of a humane society. Fromm
erlessness and indifference (cf. Weber et therefore was certain, that a long, evolu-
al. 2007). In Fromm's view differences of tionary process of reformation, necessarily
income or property should reasonably be non-violent and humane, was necessary to
justified by job performance or capacity. gain such a society. The transforming hu-
They should not be that high, so that all mane attitude needed to be already a part
humans still have a similar relation to the of everyday life, in order to reach a produc-
world (cf. Fromm 1966c). Guaranteed basic tive, sane orientation both in people and in
income, reduction in working hours and society.
especially an increasing public infrastruc-
ture, participation and decentralization References
were Fromm's main concepts regarding the Arendt, Hannah (1958): The human condition,
road towards a sane, positively activating Chicago (University of Chicago Press) 1998.
and liberal society (cf. last chapters in Anderson, Benedict (1988): Die Erfindung der
Fromm 1955a, 1968a, 1976a). Nation, Frankfurt/New York (Campus).
Bauman, Zygmunt (2017): Retropia, Frankfurt
Amid ongoing tendencies of globalization, am Main (Suhrkamp).
digitalization, as well as climate change, in- Beck, Ulrich & Bonß, Wolfgang & Lau, Christoph
equality and deficient democracy in differ- (2004): »Entgrenzung erzwingt Entschei-
ent parts of the world, it seems essential to dung: Was ist neu an der Theorie reflexiver
revitalize Fromm's ideas of a socialistic Modernisierung?,« in: Beck, Ulrich & Lau,
humanism. Such a social utopia, however, Christoph (Eds.), Entgrenzung und Entschei-
is also faced with considerable challenges dung. Frankfurt am Main (Suhrkamp),
and ambivalences in a complex, global pp. 13–63.
Brenke, Karl, Kritikos, Alexander S. (2017):
world, which also requires scientific pro-
»Wählerstruktur im Wandel,« in: DIW Wo-
cessing. chenbericht, No. 29 (19. Juli 2017).—
With regard to Erich Fromm, the central https://www.diw.de/documents/publikatio
questions to answer are: What kind of rela- nen/73/diw_01.c.562052.de/17-29-1.pdf
tionships between human beings to them- (28.05.2018)
Ehnis, Patrick (2014): Im sozialen Wandel?! Zur
selves, to other people and to nature will
Konstruktion von Männlichkeit im Span-
be implemented within social change? And nungsfeld von Beruf und Familie. Working
in terms of the economy: Who should de- Paper 01/2014.
cide in a humanistic society what goods are http://www.idconstruct.uni-bremen.de/
when and where produced and for whom? leadmin/user_upload/redak
on/idconstruct/ Pat-
Thereby, Erich Fromm was conscious of the
rick_Ehnis_Maennlichkeit_im_sozialen_Wa
fact that the road towards a society of pro- ndel.pdf.
ductive need satisfaction is a long social Fromm, Erich (1941a): Escape from Freedom,
process and somehow experimental. He New York (Farrar and Rinehart).
page/Seite 10 of/von 12
Ehnis, P., Voigt, K., 2019
Fromm's Contribution to the Analysis and Critique
of the Ongoing Rise of Right-Wing MovementsProperty of the Erich Fromm Document Center. For personal use only. Citation or publication of material pro-
hibited without express written permission of the copyright holder.
Eigentum des Erich Fromm Dokumentationszentrums. Nutzung nur für persönliche Zwecke. Veröffentlichungen
– auch von Teilen – bedürfen der schriftlichen Erlaubnis des Rechteinhabers.
– (1947a): Man for Himself. An Inquiry into the Hilmer, Rita und Gagné, Jérémie (2017):
Psychology of Ethics, New York (Rinehart »Einstellung und soziale Lebenslage. Eine
and Co.). Spurensuche nach Gründen für rechtspopu-
– (1955a): The Sane Society, New York (Rinehart listische Orientierung, auch unter Gewerk-
and Winston, Inc.). schaftsmitgliedern«—
– (1960b): Let Man Prevail. A Socialist Manifes- https://www.boeckler.de/pdf_fof/99470.pd
to and Program, New York (The Call Associ- f (28.05.2018)
ation). Inglehart, Ronald, Norris, Pippa (2016): »Trump,
– (1964a): The Heart of Man. Its Genius for Brexit, and the Rise of Populism: Economic
Good and Evil, New York (Harper and Row). Have-Nots and Cultural Backlash.« Faculty
– (1965c): »The Application of Humanist Psy- Research Working Paper Series.—
choanalysis to Marx's Theory,« in: E. Fromm https://research.hks.harvard.edu/publicatio
(Ed.), Socialist Humanism. An International ns/getFile.aspx?Id=1401 (28.05.2018)
Symposium, New York (Doubleday), Koppetsch, Cornelia (2017): »Rechtspopulis-
pp. 207–222. mus, Etablierte und Außenseiter. Emotiona-
– (1966c): »The Psychological Aspects of the le Dynamiken sozialer Deklassierung,« in:
Guaranteed Income,« in: R. Theobald (Ed.): Jörke, Dirk, Nachtwey, Oliver (Eds.) (2017),
The Guaranteed Income. Next Step in Eco- Das Volk gegen die (liberale) Demokratie.
nomic Evolution?, New York (Doubleday and Leviathan. Berliner Zeitschrift für Sozialwis-
Co.), pp. 175–184.—Online: senschaft. Sonderband 32/2017. Baden-
https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4- Baden (Nomos-Verlag), pp. 208–233.
Fromm/files/1647/1966c-eng.pdf Kühn, Thomas (2015): Kritische Sozialpsycholo-
(20.07.2017). gie des modernen Alltags. Zum Potenzial ei-
– (1968a): The Revolution of Hope. Toward a ner am Lebenslauf orientierten Forschungs-
Humanized Technology, New York (Harper perspektive, Wiesbaden (Springer VS).
and Row). Lengfeld, Holger (2017): »Die ›Alternative für
– (1976a): To Have Or to Be? New York (Harper Deutschland‹: eine Partei für Modernisie-
& Row). rungsverlierer?,« in: Kölner Zeitschrift für
– (1991e [1953]): »Modern Man's Pathology of Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie, pp. 1–24.
Normalcy,« in: E. Fromm, The Pathology of Lessenich, Stefan (2016): Neben uns die Sintflut:
Normalcy. Contributions to a Science of Die Externalisierungsgesellschaft und ihr
Man, New York (American Mental Health Preis, Berlin (Hanser Berlin).
Foundation) 2010, pp. 15–80. Minkenberg, Michael (2011): »Die radikale
– (1992e [1937]): »Man's impulse structure and Recht in Europa heute: Trends und Muster
its relation to culture,« in: E. Fromm, Be- in West und Ost,« in: Langebach, Nora,
yond Freud: From Individual to Social Psy- Schellenberg, Britta (Eds.): Ist Europa auf
choanalysis, New York (American Mental dem »rechten« Weg?, Berlin (Friedrich-
Health Foundation) 2010, pp. 17–74. Ebert-Stiftung), pp. 39 –57.
Funk, Rainer (1995): »Der Gesellschafts- Nachtwey, Oliver (2016): Die Abstiegsgesell-
Charakter. Mit Lust tun, was die Gesell- schaft. Über das Aufbegehren in der regres-
schaft braucht,« in: Internationale Erich- siven Moderne, Berlin (Edition Suhrkamp).
Fromm Gesellschaft (Ed.), Die Charakter- Rosa, Harmut (2012): Weltbeziehungen im Zeit-
mauer. Zur Psychoanalyse des Gesellschaft- alter der Beschleunigung: Umrisse einer
scharakters in Ost- und Westdeutschland. neuen Gesellschaftskritik, Frankfurt am
Eine Pilotstudie mit Primarschullehrerinnen Main (Suhrkamp).
und –lehrern, Göttingen (Vandenhoeck und – (2018): Resonanz. Eine Soziologie der Weltbe-
Ruprecht), pp. 17–73. ziehung, Berlin (Suhrkamp).
Hilmer, Richard; Kohlrausch, Bettina; Müller- Süddeutsche Zeitung (2013): »Die Hälfte aller
page/Seite 11 of/von 12
Ehnis, P., Voigt, K., 2019
Fromm's Contribution to the Analysis and Critique
of the Ongoing Rise of Right-Wing MovementsProperty of the Erich Fromm Document Center. For personal use only. Citation or publication of material pro-
hibited without express written permission of the copyright holder.
Eigentum des Erich Fromm Dokumentationszentrums. Nutzung nur für persönliche Zwecke. Veröffentlichungen
– auch von Teilen – bedürfen der schriftlichen Erlaubnis des Rechteinhabers.
Nahrungsmittel landet im Müll.«— Wakenhut, Ruht/ Vogt, Sophie (2017): Über die
https://www.sueddeutsche.de/panorama/s Lebens- und Wertewelten von AFD-
tudie-zur-lebensmittelindustrie-die-haelfte- Sympathisanten. »Früher war mehr Fami-
aller-nahrungsmittel-landet-im-muell- lie«
1.1569461ellandet-im-muell-1.1569461 https://www.marktforschung.de/hintergrue
(28.05.2018). nde/fachartikel/marktforschung/frueher-
Wakenhut, Ruth, Faus, Anna (2017): »Under- war-mehr-familie/ (28.05.2018)
standing right-wing populist voters—a qual- Weber, W.; Schmidt, B.; Unterrainer, C. (2007):
itative online exploration.«— »ODEM-Organisationale Demokratie—
https://www.gor.de/gor17/index.php?page Ressourcen für soziale, demokratieförderli-
=downloadPaper&filename=Wakenhut- che Handlungsbereitschaften,« Forschungs-
Understanding_right- bericht im Auftrag des Bundesministeriums
wing_populist_voters_%E2%80%93_a_quali für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Kultur im
tative_online_exploration- Rahmen des Programms »new orientations
199.pdf&form_id=199&form_version=final for democracy in europe,«
(28.05.2018). Wiegel, Gerd (2018): »Die modernisierte radi-
kale Rechte in Europa. Ausprägungen und
Varianten,« in: Candeias, Mario (Ed.):
Rechtspopulismus, Radikale Rechte, Faschi-
sierung. Bestimmungsversuche, Erklä-
rungsmuster und Gegenstrategien, Berlin
(Rosa Luxemburg-Stiftung), pp. 5-15.—
https://www.rosalux.de/en/publication/id/
39174/rechtspopulismus-radikale-rechte-
faschisierung/
page/Seite 12 of/von 12
Ehnis, P., Voigt, K., 2019
Fromm's Contribution to the Analysis and Critique
of the Ongoing Rise of Right-Wing MovementsYou can also read
