. Eichberg was said to act as “godfather” for a certain anti-American and anti-capitalist left wing - German Social Democrats (SPD

Social Democratic Party of Germany

The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...

), Socialists and Greens

Greens

Greens may refer to:*Leaf vegetables such as collard greens, mustard greens, spring greens, winter greens, spinach, etc.-Politics:Supranational* Green politics* Green party, political parties adhering to Green politics* Global Greens...

 -, who followed a hidden right-wing, nationalist agenda. This interpretation met, however, sharp critique from the side of left-wing anti-fascists.

Critics from the right wing accused Eichberg of overstating the structural contradictions between the state and the people. By giving priority to the “folk

Folk

The English word Folk is derived from a Germanic noun, *fulka meaning "people" or "army"...

”, the authority of the state (→state (polity)

State (polity)

A state is an organized political community, living under a government. States may be sovereign and may enjoy a monopoly on the legal initiation of force and are not dependent on, or subject to any other power or state. Many states are federated states which participate in a federal union...

, →nation state) would be damaged.

In Denmark, leaders of the Olympic sport organisation opposed the sports critique raised by Eichberg and of the Institute of Sport Research, where he was working, as “leftism” and “cultural radicalism

Cultural radicalism

Cultural Radicalism was a movement in Danish culture. It was particular strong in the Interwar Period, but its philosophy has its origin in the 1870s and a great deal of modern social commentary still refer to it....

”. The Conservative minister of culture, Brian Mikkelsen

Brian Mikkelsen

Brian Arthur Mikkelsen is a Danish politician. He is a member of the Conservative People's Party, and has been a member of parliament since 21 September 1994....

, deprived the institute in 2003 of public funding, which it had received during 25 years, and entered into a sharp debate with Eichberg in the media.