Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler and Alexander Ritzmann are joined by Franziska Sittig, co-author of a new book Intellectual Self-Destruction: How the West Gambles Away Its Future to discuss how Western academia is at a turning point, leaning toward organized activist radicalization, ideological extremism, and antisemitism. Franziska draws on her own experience at university and Hans and Alexander discuss how CEP's research identifies ways to counter this worrying trend. 

Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler and Alexander Ritzmann discuss the current rise of Neo-Nazi youth across Germany, their resemblance to the “Kameradschaft” (comradeship) movement of the 1990s and 2000s, the strategies that dominate the violent mobilization of young people and how they can be countered. The CEP Policy Brief under discussion, and the podcast are in German, and the accompanying blog is in English.

Blog (in English): 

Party, Brawls, and Posts: The New Neo-Nazi Youth Scene in Germany

Policy Brief (in German):

https://www.counterextremism.com/sites/default/files/2025-05/Neue%20Nazi-Jugend%20%20CEP%20Policy%20Brief%2009.05.2025.pdf

Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler and Alexander Ritzmann explore the deepening ties between right-wing extremists and organized crime across Europe. Drawing on CEP’s research, they reveal how groups like the Bandidos and Turonen operate as Neo-Nazi mafias, dealing in drugs, weapons, and money laundering, while law enforcement often misses ideological links due to structural blind spots.

Report: The Transnational Nexus of Violence-Oriented Right-Wing Extremism, Terrorism, and Organized Crime

Blog: Guns, Drugs, and Swastikas: Europe’s Neo-Nazi Mafias

Join hosts Alexander Ritzmann and Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler as they pull back the curtain on the Active Clubs. Ostensibly dedicated to sports and self-defense, these groups craft a deceptive image designed to keep law enforcement at bay. Yet beneath the facade lies a network involved in low-level crime and violence—with ambitions to build militias and expand operations across more than 23 countries. In this episode, we explore how these organizations really work and discuss how law enforcement can monitor and curtail their activities.

Read more on our website: https://www.counterextremism.com/

Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler and Alexander Ritzmann discuss CEP's new initiative the Auschwitz Research Center on Hate, Extremism and Radicalization (ARCHER) which will be based in the home of the former Commandant of Auschwitz. The center will use its base to take action against the rising global tide of antisemitism and extremism. The discussion in this episode is in German.

The fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria was sudden and not predicted and presents significant challenges to the international community. Could it lead to the re-emergence, for example, of ISIS, and what are the implications for Russia and Iran as strong backers of Assad? Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler and Alexander Ritzmann discuss the risks and narratives associated with these major developments.

The discussion in this first episode is based on CEP's publication 'Identifying and Disrupting Key Antisemitic Actors: A Five Step Guide' by Alexander Ritzmann, with a focus on how policymakers can consider and implement a risk-based and disruption-oriented approach to the post-October 7, global rise in antisemitism.