Germany and the global crises – ex-CSU boss sure: “Your generation will still have to work a lot”

Created: 08/12/2022, 10:11 am

By: Mike Schier, Kathrin Braun

Student Sophia Schmid (21) studies politics and economics and works as a freelance management consultant.

She is a student assistant at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität.

Huber was in Bavaria, among other things, finance minister, head of the state chancellery and from 2007 to 2008 CSU party chairman.

© Marcus sleep

On Youth Day, two generations talk about politics, wars, hopelessness and why young people don't get much out of the current system.

Munich – Corona pandemic, climate change, an aging society and now the Ukraine war and the China crisis.

The young generation sees their future dwindling and criticizes that the burden is being shared more and more unfairly.

At the same time, she demands more freedom and free time.

Does that match?

For International Youth Day (August 12), we brought the former CSU party leader Erwin Huber (76) and the Munich student Sophia Schmid (21) to a table.

The debate was controversial – and surprising.

In any case, Erwin Huber is certain: the younger generation is not turbulent enough.

Corona, energy crisis, climate change, miserable pension prospects - do today's youth have a harder time than previous generations?

Sophia Schmid:

I can't draw a comparison with the generation of my parents or my grandparents, they had other difficulties when they were young.

But now we face the problem that our future is at stake.

We must act in the next 10 to 15 years.

It's not just about the climate crisis.

Are young people secured for old age if they now work a lot?

Are we competitive at all?

Do we have a digital infrastructure?

And these are just some of the concerns of youth.

Erwin Huber:

If I draw on my own experience from the 1960s, I would rather say: today's youth are on a bed of roses.

There have never been so many opportunities.

I was in a class with 50 to 60 children.

Many of my contemporaries later had great difficulty finding an apprenticeship.

Educational opportunities are much better today.

I also consider that an achievement of my generation.

But yes, today we are facing new, major challenges.

The climate problem can no longer be solved at all.

A major drought awaits us in Europe.

And in general, the crises in the world are increasing.

Germany in crisis: "I fear that the youth will lack a voice"

So you understand the frustration of youth?

Huber:

Yes, we are at least approaching difficult times.

But I'm afraid that young people lack a voice.

It may also lack a platform.

The political youth organizations only want to make a career, the churches are in a moral crisis, the student organizations only organize academic celebrations instead of making social politics.

I almost feel challenged, as an old, white man, to go on the barricades for the youth.

Schmid:

Unfortunately, we are also a minority in Germany.

It is rather uninteresting for parties to do a lot of advertising around us.

But I also find it frightening that many young people don't even vote.

Isn't that a reaction to that?

If you don't feel heard by politics, you won't vote either?

Schmid:

I think a lot of people just don't know what their political orientation is, because it doesn't interest them.

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During the 1968 movement, universities were seething.

Have young people become more comfortable today?

Huber:

Today's young people are more adjusted and career-oriented.

Being at the college myself, I have great admiration for the students there - most of them are really bright and sensible.

But they are not a challenge to society.

In the 1960s, not only did the student movement go on the barricades, young people were also much more present in the traditional parties than they are today.

We pushed the patriarchs in the CSU out of office.

We were a stormy young generation.

Something was lost that is important for the future viability of a country.

Schmid:

But back then, with the 1968 movement, people had completely different problems.

Whether it was about abortion rights for women or whether marital rape is a criminal offence.

These are points that are easy to implement at national level.

Now we face global challenges.

We're at war in Europe, and probably soon in Asia too.

How do we deal with something like this internationally?

And on the climate crisis: Suddenly children around the world took to the streets and got involved.

That has moved a lot: In the last federal election, there was not a single election program in which climate change played no role.

Two CSU sizes: Erwin Huber (right) and the Bavarian Prime Minister, Markus Söder.

© Frank Hoermann/SVEN SIMON/imago images

Russia, China, USA: “Europe threatens to lose out”

Mr. Huber, when you were young there were also global uncertainties: the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, there were also great concerns about a Third World War.

Will that be forgotten today?

Huber:

Back then, most young people had to join the Bundeswehr, so they had to make an immediate sacrifice for their safety.

But I admit: Today's global problems are harder and more difficult to solve.

And I have great respect for the Fridays for Future movement.

it actually made a difference.

The CSU is still doing too little, but overall an important topic has come onto the agenda of world politics.

But if I could wish for more commitment from the young people in one point, then please for an open, tolerant Europe: In the great conflict - Russia, China, USA - Europe is in danger of falling into the loser's lane.

And with it our form of democracy.

Schmid:

Yes, among young people the freedoms in Europe are often taken for granted.

On the other hand, I have to say that I was involved with the Young European Federalists myself.

But my time is limited.

Many young people have to earn money alongside their studies.

Society overwhelmed?

"Digitization has led to sensory overload"

Did you previously have more time to get involved in politics, Mr. Huber?

Huber:

The demands of school and university are indeed higher today.

And: The young generation is facing a challenge that did not exist in my time.

Digitization has led to sensory overload.

Everything has become more confusing, people are tempted to be distracted everywhere.

Economically speaking, today's youth have it easier than in the 1960s - but in terms of mental, spiritual stress, young people today are more affected.

Schmid:

I think it's a bit too easy for yourself to blame the internet.

The Internet makes it much easier for us to access information, and digitization creates transparency.

But what I find frightening: It is well known that social networks make a profit from our attention, users are manipulated by algorithms, pushed into certain groups, including radical ones.

Misinformation spreads very quickly.

And politicians have not yet intervened, which I find very critical.

Huber:

I didn't mean to say that digitization is an evil of society.

On the contrary: it creates an incredibly wide space for communication.

This also creates new challenges.

But I have to disagree with you: the state cannot intervene here.

It is part of personal responsibility to use technology sensibly and to avoid hazards.

Otherwise we will destroy our freedom bit by bit.

Germany's traffic light government: "I think the Union has been in government for too long"

Mr. Huber, in the last federal election, young people mainly voted for the Greens and the FDP.

A sign of poverty for the people's parties.

Why is that?

Huber:

I don't understand the thing about the FDP myself.

In the case of the Greens, it's easier to explain: it's about emotions, as a voter you put yourself in a good moral position, you do something for the environment and for the future.

In addition, as the CSU, we have lost contact with the younger generation.

The Junge Union isn't doing enough either, it should actually be closer to the young people.

And we certainly tackled issues such as climate protection too late.

Schmid:

I think the Union was simply in government for too long.

I hate to say it, but allegations of corruption have accumulated over such a long period of time, whether in the area of ​​masks or corporate investments.

And I think the "C" is slowly becoming a problem in your party, Mr. Huber.

We live in a society that is becoming more and more liberal, in which fewer and fewer people believe in God, many are leaving the church, and some also belong to other religions.

Young people can hardly identify with the views represented by the CDU and CSU - for example, there is also the ban on advertising for abortions.

A lot of people were happy that the paragraph was abolished.

And why do so many young people vote for the FDP?

Schmid:

(laughs) Because the FDP said, for example, that they would legalize cannabis.

The party has generally put the freedom of the individual in the foreground - after the Corona crisis, this is particularly important to many people.

The curfews were tough, especially for young people.

Youth work-life balance?

“Your generation will still have a lot of work to do”

Mr. Huber: Is there anything that particularly bothers you about the younger generation?

Huber:

One thing is burning on my soul: I think we are seducing the younger generation with the buzzword work-life balance.

It sounds like work is a bad thing and you should try to avoid it as much as possible.

I consider that fatal.

You can find more fulfillment at work than on vacation.

On Youth Day, I would wish the younger generation to see work as a meaningful activity and not just as a burden.

Schmid:

I see it differently.

Nobody wants to just sit around all day.

And just about everyone would wish to find fulfillment in their work, whether it be paid work or volunteer work.

But our generation has found that we are of no use if we work 50 hours a week, have no time for travel and hobbies and, incidentally, raise children.

Many forget how exhausting household and family can be.

In the 60s it was still done by the wife.

That's different today.

The point of work-life balance can be seen: Where does fulfillment end in the job and where does stress begin.

Huber:

When I was 16 I was still a macho, when I was 66 I was more of a feminist.

Today I have a great deal of understanding that you have to balance family and work.

But we are already an affluent society, after school many young people first travel to Australia for a year.

I don't mean to badmouth that either.

But we now have a major shortage of skilled workers, so work-life balance is difficult to reconcile.

It may be a bitter pill, but your generation will still have a lot of work to do.

Interview: Kathrin Braun and Mike Schier