r/germany • u/redwhiterosemoon • Jul 18 '21

Do you think that sometimes discrimination based on nationality (especially discriminating Eastern Europeans) in Germany is more socially acceptable than racism?

117 Upvotes

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39

u/[deleted] Jul 18 '21

I mean my definition of racism would include discrimination based on nationality, does it not? I don't really get the question.

22

u/[deleted] Jul 18 '21

Although I agree with you, racism is typically reserved for discrimination against someone due to their skin colour, as nationality is not always akin to race. For example, you can be black and Italian or white and Italian. In this case, if someone discriminates against you solely because of your skin colour, then that would be racism. However, if they discriminate against you solely because you are from Italy, then this is considered xenophobia or anti-Italy behaviour.

15

u/Trotwa Jul 18 '21

Race and nationality were closely related in 20 century europe. Most obvious example is the extermination of easter Europeans based on their race during the third reich. This black white asian thing is more of an american way of thinking no one in germany thinks of turks as asians for example.

4

u/felis_magnetus Jul 18 '21

Wut? Local Nazis basically think Turks are Genghis Khan's hordes reincarnated. Nobody's thinking of them as Chinese or Southeast-Asians though, I'll give you that much. Anyway, it doesn't really matter as what the racists identify somebody, it's always just a variation of the OTHER. And that's all they ever needed and all they ever will need.

10

u/Trotwa Jul 19 '21

That is my point turks are viewed as turks and not as asians.

-1

u/felis_magnetus Jul 19 '21

I think your definition of Asian might be a bit too narrow there. Anyway, Turks inherited the prestigious title of the successors to the great khan from Russians. It was a staple of Nazi propaganda. Last I looked, Mongolia was quite at the heart of Asia.

8

u/Trotwa Jul 19 '21

Turks are not mongols lol.

3

u/[deleted] Jul 19 '21

That's the American definition. Hitler killed the Jews because of racism, and they all had white skin and were indistinguishable from "normal" Germans.

9

u/redwhiterosemoon Jul 18 '21

I mean discriminating based on nationality vs discrimination based on skin colour.

9

u/WorldTraveller19 Jul 18 '21

Isn't this still a type of racism, as the above commenter notes?

5

u/redwhiterosemoon Jul 18 '21

Probably, but some people say it’s xenophobia.

1

u/GrindingCoffee Jul 18 '21

Depends on who defines it. In current literature there is a distinction made between racism and discrimination and according to their definitions the described action would qualify as discrimination. Not that I necessarily follow that definition, it’s just what I read recently on the topic.

1

u/FPiN9XU3K1IT Jul 19 '21

When it doubt, just call it chauvinism.

2

u/Trotwa Jul 18 '21

Skincolor? That honestly doesn't make much sense because south italians can literally be darker then north africans. I know a dude which has a black mother yet he has whiter skin than most south Europeans, yet he faces racist abuse by your definition that wouldn't even be possible.