Extra-parliamentary opposition and pressure: student protest; urban terrorism and Baader-Meinhof gang; environmentalism
From the 1960s onwards, groups outside West Germany's parliament challenged the government through street protests, political violence, and environmental campaigning. These movements tested how stable and open the new democracy really was.
Real World
The Red Army Faction (Baader-Meinhof Gang) kidnapped and murdered employer federation president Hanns Martin Schleyer in October 1977, triggering a constitutional crisis over how far the state could restrict civil liberties to fight terrorism.
Exam Focus
Always explain how extra-parliamentary opposition both challenged and ultimately strengthened West German democracy — one-sided answers lose marks.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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