We are all children in this German family. There is father state and mother Merkel. Sometimes we are governed with a hard hand, sometimes pragmatically, sometimes factually, sometimes quietly and almost imperceptibly. But it is not only linguistically that there are parallels between political systems, families and education. The way children are raised directly affects their political beliefs. “As a child, we experience for the first time what it means to be governed,” says linguist Elisabeth Wehling. That leaves deep marks.
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There is now little doubt that political attitudes often arise in the children’s room and can only be partially changed through later political education. The style of upbringing is decisive for the later attitude. Two contrary styles mark the two ends of a spectrum: the strictly authoritarian and the caring-compassionate.
Authoritarian parents organize the family hierarchically. The parents are upstairs demanding obedience and discipline from the children. They don’t explain, they insist on obedience. Often they work with punishment. Some show little tenderness because they believe that too much gentleness spoils the character. The caring parenting styles, on the other hand, are designed for empathy, bonding and meeting at eye level. Children should be accompanied – people tend to trust that their lively impulses show them the way.
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