Joining Forces with the AfD: A Study on Local Government Cooperation
Barriers against the AfD frequently show weakness in local city councils - Firewall for AfD is insubstantial in districts and municipalities, offering little resistance
A fresh look into the relationships between Germany's local governments and the far-right AfD party reveals some striking findings. Led by politics professor Daniel Ziblatt from Harvard, a team of researchers analyzed over 11,000 meetings of county and city councils between 2019 and 2024, as exclusive details by "Der Spiegel" on Wednesday reveal.
The study found that in nearly 19% of cases, established parties lent their support to proposals or personnel from the largely right-wing AfD. Out of the 4,968 proposals submitted by the AfD in the study period, 934 received backing from other parties.
Big Parties Aren't Always Blocking the AfD
The researchers characterized cooperation as occurring when at least 10% of the non-AfD representatives voted for the AfD's proposals or candidates. With some data limitations in certain counties, the analysis showed that none of the larger parties consistently upheld the barrier against the AfD. Interestingly, members of minor parties like the Free Voters were most likely to partner with the AfD, doing so in 86.5% of collaborative instances.
FDP members were present in 38.6% of the studied instances of cooperation, followed by CDU participants at 38.4%. SPD representatives were involved in 32.1% of situations, whereas the Greens were part of 29.5%. Left Party members cooperated least frequently at 21.1%.
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East vs. West Germany: No Significant Gap
The research findings revealed no substantial differences in cooperation between East and West Germany. However, there were differences in rural and urban areas, particularly in the eastern federal states. On average, county councils supported AfD proposals more frequently than independent cities: 26.7% compared to 16%.
The study authors expressed concern about collaboration with radical forces like the AfD, as it could lead to the normalization and legitimization of extremist views, making a power grab through peaceful democratic means more feasible.
- AfD
- Barrier
- County Council
- Local Government
- Collaboration
- The study on local government cooperation, led by Daniel Ziblatt, revealed that established parties lent their support to proposals or personnel from the AfD in nearly 19% of cases, with members of minor parties like the Free Voters most likely to collaborate with the AfD.
- The authors of the study expressed concern about collaboration with radical forces like the AfD, as it could lead to the normalization and legitimization of extremist views, potentially making a power grab through peaceful democratic means more feasible.
- The findings of the study did not show a significant difference in cooperation between East and West Germany, but there were differences in rural and urban areas, particularly in the eastern federal states, with county councils supporting AfD proposals more frequently than independent cities.
