It’s not a democracy when one-sixth of all residents have limited or no democratic representation. It’s a formula for exploitation and an open door for reactionary ideology.

For the past few years, Germany’s political establishment has been warning that democracy is under threat. The menace, they say, is the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD).  Yet for 14 million non-citizen residents of Germany — or 17% of the German population — the reality is that Germany is, in practice, already not a democracy, as they lack basic rights.

Non-citizens in Germany can have a wide range of statuses, from non-German EU citizens to refugees with a “Duldung” — literally “toleration.” Rights accorded to non-citizens vary greatly with the precise residence title, impacting job market........

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