Pick Your Battles: Bijan Moini – Gutmensch, Opportunismus, Migration & Arroganz

Why has "do-gooder" become an insult? When does political conformity become opportunism? And how do we recognize that societal boundaries are shifting? Our board member Jan Philipp Albrecht discusses these questions with civil rights activist and author Bijan Moini. Bijan Moini is a lawyer and political scientist. At the Society for Civil Rights, he led the legal team and the project for an expert opinion on the potential unconstitutionality of the AfD (Alternative for Germany). As an author, he explores freedom, law, and democracy—most recently in his novel "2033," which depicts a Germany under a far-right government. In this episode, he discusses with Jan Philipp Albrecht why democratic politics might need more courage and a longer-term perspective. What happens when politics, business, and institutions begin to adapt as a precautionary measure? And how can we prevent creeping habituation from eventually becoming the norm? The discussion touches on migration and shifting societal boundaries, morality in politics, and how democratic forces can reach people. And finally: How much self-criticism does one's own political stance require – and what gives cause for hope that resistance against authoritarian developments can make a difference? ... CHAPTER 05:23 Cowardice 12:37 Opportunism 20:09 Habituation 29:15 Do-gooder 37:17 Arrogance SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4hPLhbq... Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast... RSS Feed https://pick-your-battles.podigee.io/... Pick Your Battles on boell.de https://www.boell.de/de/podcasts/pick... FURTHER LINKS Bijan Moini – personal website https://bijanmoini.de/ Bijan Moini – Society for Civil Liberties https://freiheitsrechte.org/ueber-die... Expert Opinion on the Potential Unconstitutionality of the AfD – Society for Civil Liberties https://afd-gutachten.de/ Bijan Moini: 2033. Novel – Atrium Verlag https://www.w1-verlage.de/atrium-verl... Democracy – Heinrich Böll Foundation https://www.boell.de/de/demokratie The New Republic – Heinrich Böll Foundation https://www.boell.de/de/die-neue-repu... ABOUT THE FORMAT "Pick Your Battles" is the Heinrich Böll Foundation's constructive debate format: Six topics, each with six minutes of discussion – about political conflicts and social debates. All episodes of "Pick Your Battles" on YouTube: Pick Your Battles - Konstruktiver Streit -... Photo JPA: © Sibylle Fendt, Photo BM: © IMAGO/BRUEL-BILD, Editing: hbs