Racist mobilisation and sexualisation in the ‘refugee debate’ in Germany

In our article, we focus on the racist mobilisations that are reflected in the so-called refugee debate in Germany. Special emphasis is placed on the discussion around real and supposed sexualised violence from (young) male refugees towards girls and women. Based on selected examples (Night of New Year’s Eve in Cologne 2015/16, Women’s March and protests after migrant murders of women), we analyse the racialisation of sexism that is being undertaken by the far right, but is being increasingly supported in large parts of society. To explain this phenomenon, we adopt a historical perspective considering Germany’s colonial past and the period of National Socialism.