Far-Right Ascendancy in Germany's Political Landscape
The Rise of the Far-Right in East Germany: Understanding the Trend
The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has made significant strides in East Germany, becoming a formidable force in the region's politics. In the 2025 federal election, the AfD led the vote in all former East German states, with a vote share of over 20% nationally [1][2].
The success of the AfD in East Germany can be attributed to several factors. Economic insecurity and social disaffection, remnants of the post-reunification transition, have left lingering challenges in the former East [1][5]. Migration and anti-Muslim sentiment, fueled in part by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency (BfV), which classified the AfD as "extremist" for promoting ethnically and ancestrally defined national identity perspectives and anti-Muslim rhetoric [3], also play a significant role.
A cultural backlash against progressive and post-materialist values, such as environmentalism and feminism, is another factor driving the AfD's popularity [5]. Additionally, political disillusionment and anti-elite attitudes, fueled by dissatisfaction towards the governing coalition’s policies, have contributed to the party's success [1].
The AfD's appeal extends to younger voters, with the party being the second most popular among ages 18-29 and the first among ages 30-44 [2]. This demographic shift is part of a broader pattern of far-right populist strength in regions experiencing economic and social strains, as well as cultural conflict.
In the state elections held on 1 September 2021, the AfD got close to one-third of the votes in both Saxony and Thuringia, becoming the strongest party in Thuringia and coming in second in Saxony [6]. The party's branches in Thuringia and Saxony were even labeled right-wing extremist organizations by intelligence agencies [7].
The rise of the AfD in East Germany has led to heightened surveillance and political controversy due to its extremist classification [2][3]. However, it also indicates a crisis of political participation in the region. Mainstream politicians should address the underlying issues that led to the AfD's success to prevent further growth of the far right [8].
East German voters, apart from those who live in cities like Leipzig, Dresden, or Potsdam, have lost faith in progressive political parties [9]. The history of high support for political forces that seem to embrace the country's authoritarian past is another factor to consider [9].
In local elections, candidates often choose to run without being associated with a party [10]. The lack of homegrown ideas in economic, social, and political recipes after reunification is another contributing factor to the crisis of political participation [11].
Party membership in East Germany, in relation to population size, is well below that of West Germany [12]. The AfD can influence politics through a blocking minority, preventing constitutional amendments, the election of constitutional judges, and other political actions [13].
The perceived lack of opportunities and the feeling of not being heard partly explain the disillusionment with party politics in East Germany [4]. The AfD, in its rhetoric, has capitalised on these feelings, framing immigration as the root of all evil, while more substantial issues like social justice and deteriorating living conditions were not addressed properly [4].
In summary, the far-right AfD's relative success in East Germany is significantly higher than in the rest of Germany, driven by economic, cultural, and political factors distinctive to the region. This contrasts with West Germany, where far-right support remains weaker and mainstream parties more dominant. Addressing the underlying issues that led to the AfD's success is crucial to prevent further growth of the far right in East Germany.
References: [1] https://www.dw.com/en/germany-election-afd-tops-polls-in-east-but-lags-behind-in-west/a-57209576 [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58659243 [3] https://www.dw.com/en/germany-domestic-intelligence-agency-classifies-afd-as-extremist/a-59740130 [4] https://www.dw.com/en/germany-election-afd-tops-polls-in-east-but-lags-behind-in-west/a-57209576 [5] https://www.dw.com/en/germany-afd-tops-east-polls-as-far-right-gains-ground/a-57210081 [6] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58659243 [7] https://www.dw.com/en/germany-domestic-intelligence-agency-classifies-afd-as-extremist/a-59740130 [8] https://www.dw.com/en/germany-afd-tops-east-polls-as-far-right-gains-ground/a-57210081 [9] https://www.dw.com/en/germany-afd-tops-east-polls-as-far-right-gains-ground/a-57210081 [10] https://www.dw.com/en/germany-afd-tops-east-polls-as-far-right-gains-ground/a-57210081 [11] https://www.dw.com/en/germany-afd-tops-east-polls-as-far-right-gains-ground/a-57210081 [12] https://www.dw.com/en/germany-afd-tops-east-polls-as-far-right-gains-ground/a-57210081 [13] https://www.dw.com/en/germany-afd-tops-east-polls-as-far-right-gains-ground/a-57210081
- The success of the AfD in East Germany, driven by factors such as migration, economic insecurity, cultural backlash, and political disillusionment, highlights the role of war-and-conflicts, politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice in shaping political landscapes.
- The classifications of the AfD as an extremist organization by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency (BfV), due to its ethnically and ancestrally defined national identity perspectives and anti-Muslim rhetoric, have brought debates on policy-and-legislation and human rights to the forefront.
- The AfD's influence on politics, through a blocking minority that can prevent constitutional amendments and the election of constitutional judges, raises concerns about the impact of extreme views on government decision-making and justice systems, touching upon crime-and-justice and policy-and-legislation matters.
