Corruption

Child benefit has been staged as a symbol of state welfare for decades. Politicians boast it as the core of social justice, as support for families, as an expression of caring politics. But behind the facade of solidarity is a fiscal... [...]

Lusatia is one of Germany's most affected areas of Germany's military legacy. Duds, ammunition, remains of former practice sites and war damage have been penetrating the ground for many decades and are a constant burden for... [...]

The proclamation of a suspense marks a radical turning point in the relationship between citizen and state. What has been taken for granted up to now is suspended: rights are restricted, the standard of living decreases abruptly and control over one's own... [...]

Almost all official narratives of German reunification emphasize the opportunities that the growing together of West and East should offer. However, the overlooked downsides are present everywhere: After the unification, the former value-adding industry in... [...]

The revelations on Loveint, i.e. the private abuse of state surveillance powers by government officials, show in a frightening way how fragile dealing with powerful data systems has become. originally conceived as tools to protect national security, transform... [...]

The restrictive weapons ban is developing into a symbol of state control that creates fatal social side effects. Increasingly tightened laws and prohibition zones are intended to convey a feeling of security, but reality is different: a sprawling... [...]

VAT is like a shadow over every purchase, electricity bill and service contract. Especially for low-income households, this shadow becomes an ever-growing threat, which not only affects financially... [...]

What once happened through feudal power, personal dependence and open land robbery is shown in a technocratically disguised form today: as a seemingly legitimate claim for fees, as a tax burden, as a contribution to infrastructure or development. The language has changed... [...]

In many modern states, the balance between security and freedom shifts quietly but steadily. What was once considered an exception is now normality: assets are frozen, property confiscated, accounts blocked - not due to proven guilt,... [...]

Conscription was historically never just a military issue, but always an instrument that weakened large parts of the population economically. In earlier times, men left their farms, workshops and families for long working hours, often against... [...]