Krise der FDP - Ist der Liberalismus am Ende?
Summary
This episode of *Der Rest ist Geschichte* explores the historical decline of the FDP and the concept of liberalism in Germany. Featuring historians Jörn Leonhard and Sabine Kropp, the discussion traces the origins of liberal thought from the French Revolution and the Hambach Festival to the Weimar Republic and post-war Federal Republic. The hosts analyze how internal conflicts over social versus economic liberalism, particularly the 1982 coalition switch, narrowed the party’s profile. Ultimately, the episode questions whether the FDP’s focus on market politics has alienated voters, leaving …
Topics discussed
FDP election defeat and loss of parliamentary seats
The current relevance of liberal core questions
Historical origins and evolving definition of liberalism
The French Revolution and the Bastille as a symbol
German liberal movement and rejection of French terror
The Hambach Festival and its diverse participants
Debate on who qualifies as a citizen in liberal society
Constitutional vs. radical liberal approaches to change
Repressive policies and the path toward 1848 revolution
Economic arguments for a unified German nation-state
Fear of social chaos and the 1848 revolution demands
Luise Otto and the struggle for women's political rights
The tension between freedom and equality in theory
Electoral success of Social Democrats over Liberals
Weimar Republic, Nazi era, and the end of liberal democracy
Founding of the FDP and internal ideological conflicts
FDP's role in establishing the post-war rule of law
FDP in Adenauer's government and the Scheel era
Social-liberal coalition and the 1982 political turn
Loss of members and shift to economic liberalism
Reunification and FDP's lack of support in East Germany
Debate on surveillance and the decline of legal liberalism
Narrowing focus to tax and debt policy
Strategic dilemmas and potential for digital policy
Future challenges: climate, inequality, and global crises
Credits and podcast outro
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