The Everyday Politics of Repression: Palestine Solidarity in Berlin
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2025-08-21
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en
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Abstract
For almost two years now, Berlin has witnessed repeated incidents of severe police violence and other
forms of repression against those protesting or speaking out publicly against the war on Gaza. This
master's thesis examines the repression experienced by people in Berlin showing solidarity with Palestine
and its impact on them. Particular attention is paid to whether and how their perception of democracy in
Germany has changed. Although research exists on repression and police violence against certain political
movements, as well as on Palestine solidarity movements, analysis of individual experiences in the German
context is lacking. One reason for this is the marginalization of pro-Palestinian voices in German
academia. This thesis aims to address this research gap. The empirical basis consists of semi-structured
interviews with eight individuals affected by repression and three support organizations. The results reveal
that, while the observed repression resembles familiar patterns, it increased significantly in both intensity
and frequency. This results in a loss of trust in democracy among those affected. The principle of German
Staatsräson reinforces and legitimizes these dynamics by contributing to an anti-Palestinian narrative.
Overall, the situation is consistent with global trends of democratic backsliding and the repression of
critical voices.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen