Felix Banaszak, head of the Green Party, is actively advocating for a more positive and broader understanding of the concept of ‘Heimat’ (home/belonging) within his party. He argues that when people are deprived of a sense of rootedness, they lose much more than just a place to live. According to ntv, he asserted that the Greens themselves must embody “Home for people”-a sense of emotional belonging, rather than merely offering a programmatic catalog of policies. His personal motto emphasizes this shift: “Fewer circles of the seats, more human encounters, less lecturing.”
Ten to fifteen years ago, Banaszak viewed the term of rootedness with skepticism, dismissing it as mere “nostalgia-mongering.” However, his perspective has fundamentally changed. He referenced US philosopher Michael Sandel, noting that it was a mistake by the political left to allow the concept of patriotism to exclusively remain with the right wing. Banaszak stressed that humans naturally possess a need for belonging, and he warned that if everything continues to become “atomized,” something vital will be lost. This sense of loss, he argued, cannot be countered by merely presenting “a beautiful theory of cosmopolitan freedom.”
On a more personal level, Banaszak admitted that he only came to value tradition and roots “later in life.” After graduating, he left the Ruhr region to move to Berlin, driven by a desire to escape. Yet, in the capital, he realized, “that I am a child of the Ruhr region, and am not unproud of it.” He links the deindustrialization trend to the rise of anti-democratic politics, pointing out that when people lose their jobs, they lose not only income but also “identity and an anchor.”
Ricarda Lang, a former leader of the Greens, stated that she can “very well understand” why the AfD’s appeal around a love for ‘Heimat’ resonates in Eastern Germany; it transmits a genuine sense of loss. She believes that while the liberal modernity has provided many with material security, it has simultaneously taken away belonging and deep roots. This “hyper-individualism” has ultimately “displaced many people,” leading to emotional dislocation. Critically, she observed that this pain currently seems to be claimed “almost exclusively” by the right. She concluded that if the right is expected to respond to this loss, the progressive movement must also actively generate something that fosters belonging, common good, and community.
When questioned about his feelings for Germany, Banaszak remained reserved: “I would be lying if I said that love is the feeling that overwhelms me when I think of Germany.” However, he acknowledges an identification with the country. He suggests that Germany benefits from a “somewhat ambivalent attitude toward national pride.” He notes that since the 2006 World Cup, displaying the German flag has become normalized, and not everyone showing the flag is a closed-off nationalist. Despite this, he emphasizes that maintaining this ambiguity is crucial, especially as the last witnesses of the Holocaust pass away. Banaszak strongly emphasized, “that I have no doubt that I would do a great deal for the good of this country and the people within it, and that we can solve our problems.”
Lang, who identifies as a “constitutional patriot,” noted that for a long time, she primarily saw the critical aspects of the country and took the positives-growing up in a state governed by law, being part of the EU, and having a basic law that enshrines human dignity-for granted. She rejects any competitive competition regarding who loves Germany the most, particularly given that some groups purportedly venerate the country but receive their orders “more from Moscow.”
It is worth noting that Banaszak had previously faced criticism during an ARD summer interview for subtly deflecting questions about his love for Germany by referring instead to his hometown of Duisburg. In a subsequent podcast appearance, Banaszak conceded that he had been “a little bit dodging the issue.”
