He argues such generalizations are frequently inaccurate and therefore deeply offensive
However, Krüger also expressed frustration with the tendency to consistently assign a victim role to East Germans He emphasized the diverse nature of the population in the East, mirroring the diversity that existed within the former German Democratic Republic He noted the presence of a wide spectrum of individuals – queer, marginalized, intelligent and less so – just as in West Germany
Krüger urged a more challenging approach, encouraging East Germans to openly discuss their strengths and weaknesses without glossing over complexities He believes this requires courageous individuals to take the lead in public discourse
He also suggested a shift in comparative analysis, arguing that East Germany should be benchmarked against other Central and Eastern European states rather than solely against West Germany He pointed to similarities in the development of post-communist societies and observed greater dynamism among younger generations due to increased freedom of movement He cautioned against simply dismissing societies with strong support for populist parties, highlighting underlying desires for change
In his final remarks, Krüger called for greater mutual tolerance within Germany’s democracy, describing it as a system where dissenting opinions are permissible as long as fundamental constitutional boundaries are respected He identified hostility towards others, disregard for human rights and homophobia as examples of crossing those boundaries
Responding to a question about the apparent decline in acceptance of opposing viewpoints, Krüger posited that democracy may have been overextended in its efforts to empower and provide visibility to various forms of disadvantage and marginalization, potentially creating a sense of overwhelm He observed a tendency for individuals to align strongly with specific groups that often display antagonism towards others, accompanied by attempts to enforce conformity within those groups He warned that this trend poses a problem for democracy, as it hinges on the ability to sustain free and open discussions, allowing for diverging opinions among family, friends and neighbors without fostering resentment
Krüger, born in Thuringia, will officially retire on Friday after 25 years leading the Federal Agency for Civic Education
