Ahead of a youth protest day this Saturday, youth researcher Klaus Hurrelmann voiced concern over the stigmatization being imposed by union politicians and security agencies. Speaking to the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung,” the social scientist stated that while the initiative itself might be novice and naïve, this does not justify treating participants with general suspicion.
Hurrelmann reacted specifically to comments, such as those from Baden-Württemberg’s Interior Minister Manuel Hagel (CDU), regarding a “violent mob,” emphasizing that anyone warning of a crowd must clearly add that they fundamentally support young people exercising their right to protest.
When asked whether violence was truly imminent, Hurrelmann responded that “it is not possible to predict seriously.” He argued that what is critical is how professionally the demonstrations are organized on the ground. He noted that if an event lacks experienced leadership and adequate security, radical individuals can quickly seize control of the proceedings.
However, the social scientist also suggested that it is possible that not many young people will follow the call made by the “GenZ regelt” coalition. Hurrelmann observed that the initiative “appears moulded from the ground up, almost like a retort,” because it is unclear who is driving it or assuming responsibility. He further critiqued the initiative, stating that it lacks a clear face and features a disparate catalogue of themes, adding that this could easily mean the protests remain small.
He concluded by noting that in Germany, such protests likely would never have materialized without precedents set by France and perhaps Italy. Despite this, the youth researcher stressed that this does not mean the younger generation in Germany is satisfied with the current situation.
