The Basic Law, which is the German constitution, contains mechanisms for the protection of democracy against internal threats, that is, against the democratic agents themselves who might attempt to subvert the system.
However, the article suggests that these protections do not extend equally effectively against external threats to the democratic system.
The text indicates that there is a vulnerability with regard to defense against external enemies, a flank that remains exposed.
This exposure becomes particularly problematic when the threat is of a hybrid nature, combining elements of war and peace in a way that is difficult to categorize and combat with traditional democratic protection instruments.
