Civil society as a conflict zone. The threats of authoritarian national radicalism and the shrinking spaces for civic education in Saxony (Germany)

The study analyses the socio-spatial constellations as contexts for threats and insults to persons active in civic education by protagonists of authoritarian national radicalism. Persons active in civic education in Saxony (Germany) are under attack to a great extent due to their role in maintaining a democratic political culture. Actors of authoritarian national radicalism aim to restrict their work through threats and insults and to gain power and hegemony. Based on an online survey among persons active in civic education in Saxony (N = 134), a Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) identifies two equifinal types of socio-spatial constellations for these threats and insults against them: First, actors of authoritarian national radicalism aim for clearance gains in urban districts where they are not yet institutionalised. Second, threats and insults to persons active in civic education are applied to secure territorial gains in rural districts and deepen their institutionalisation. Both solutions identify specific conflict dynamics that cause shrinking spaces for civil society actors that strengthen democratic political culture.