AfD's cultural nationalism revives historical hostility toward modernist Bauhaus
Original framing: “Alternative for Germany revives Nazi-era attacks on Bauhaus” — Financial Times
The Bauhaus was closed by the Nazis in 1933 due to its progressive and internationalist ethos. The AfD's current attacks mirror this historical pattern of far-right movements targeting modernist institutions as threats to national identity.
The revival of anti-Bauhaus sentiment by the AfD reflects a broader resurgence of cultural nationalism that seeks to erase the contributions of modernist, internationalist, and marginalized voices in shaping European identity.
By examining the Bauhaus through indigenous, historical, and cross-cultural lenses, we see how its suppression under the Nazis and its current targeting by the AfD are part of a continuous pattern of exclusionary cultural politics. Promoting inclusive design education, supporting Bauhaus institutions, and fostering public discourse on modernist values can help counteract these trends and reaffirm the Bauhaus's legacy as a model of international collaboration and innovation.