Die Linke Has to Be a Party for the Working Class
Ines Schwerdtner is the newly elected cochair of German left-wing party Die Linke. In an interview with Jacobin, she explains how she wants to reconnect the party with a working-class base.
14 Articles by: Ines Schwerdtner
Ines Schwerdtner is cochair of Die Linke. She was formerly editor in chief of the German-language Jacobin.
Germany’s New Government Is in Thrall to Neoliberal Hawks
Today, the Social Democrat Olaf Scholz became leader of Germany’s new government. But with fiscal hawk Christian Lindner in charge of the finance ministry, there’s little hope of Germany — or Europe — breaking free of neoliberal dogmas.
In Berlin, We Won a Vote to Nationalize the Big Landlords
Last Sunday, Berliners voted to nationalize the big landlords and win housing justice. We managed to get over a million people to vote to expropriate 240,000 apartments owned by mega-corporations.
Germany’s Christian Democrats Are Turning Toward Coalition with the Greens
This weekend’s Christian-Democrat conference elected Armin Laschet as new party leader, narrowly defeating his Trump-like rival. With Chancellor Angela Merkel set to step down this fall, the party is seeking a new centrist bloc with the Greens — but still faces a hard-right upsurge within its own ranks.
The German Model Is Dead — And What Comes Next Could Be Worse
After recent electoral defeats for the Christian Democrats, Angela Merkel’s heir faces ever louder resignation calls. Europe’s economic powerhouse no longer looks like a model of stability — and it’s the far right that’s benefiting.
The Man Who Couldn’t Save East Germany
Egon Krenz told Jacobin about his time as East Germany’s last Communist leader.
No, the European Commission Isn’t Fighting the Patriarchy
Both the last two German defense ministers have been women, and one of them is about to become European Commission president. But Ursula von der Leyen’s rise through the ranks has nothing to do with feminism.
Going Red-Red-Green
The European elections marked a historic setback for the German left. Die Linke cochair Katja Kipping tells Jacobin how she plans to revive it.
Can Anyone Save the SPD?
As its voter base collapses, Germany’s once-mass Social Democratic Party appears to be headed into the political abyss. To make things worse, its leaders think the answer lies in a further shift to the right.
Grand Theft Austria
A corruption scandal has brought down the Austrian government — and showed how close the racist right is to big business.
One, Two, Many Rosa Luxemburgs
On the 100th anniversary of her murder, Rosa Luxemburg’s incredible life provides us with a model — not necessarily of what to do, but of how to do it.
A Departure With Consequences
Angela Merkel has announced she will not seek another term as Chancellor. The candidates lining up to replace her suggest the transition will be anything but smooth.
Germany’s Governmental Crisis
A regional party in Germany is flexing its muscles and shifting the country’s politics significantly to the right. Is Angela Merkel’s supremacy coming to an end?
Social Democracy’s Last Dance
Whether in or outside a grand coalition, Germany’s Social Democratic Party lacks the political imagination and organization to revive itself.