Right-Wing Movements in Europe Mirror Trump's Strategies As Success Increases

In a bid to end their political isolation and potentially seize power, Germany's Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has unveiled a strategy reminiscent of Donald Trump's approach in the United States. This strategy involves instigating a deep cultural and political polarization, pitting a "bourgeois conservative" camp against a "radical left" camp, particularly targeting the left-wing party Die Linke to trigger a contrived culture war [1][2][5].

The AfD's strategy draws inspiration from Trump's approach, which also relied heavily on culture wars and identity politics to fracture traditional party alignments and normalize far-right participation in government. The AfD's internal documents explicitly reference creating a "duel between two irreconcilably opposed camps" modeled on the American partisan divides seen under Trump [2].

However, the AfD strategy also focuses on leveraging specific domestic factors. For instance, they plan to exploit the presence of Russian-aligned voters with tailored messaging and emphasize conflicts over gender and identity issues ("gender gaga" as termed derogatorily within AfD plans) in Germany's sociopolitical context [1].

This approach has led to a polarizing atmosphere in Germany, with incidents of antisemitism almost doubling between 2022 and 2023, according to a report by the US Anti-Defamation League [3]. Similar increases have been reported in the UK and USA. Tougher policing is needed against protest movements that stray into violence and intimidation, no matter how justified their motivation [4].

In addition, stronger laws are needed to trace and prevent foreign funding of parties like Reform, which has pledged to accept donations in cryptocurrency [4]. The rise of such parties fuels a polarizing atmosphere that far-right parties like Reform in the UK can feed off, currently polling up to 30 percent [6].

The core of the offer to voters of the centre-left has to be redistribution not just of wealth but of economic and physical security, to make everyday life feel safer and more predictable [7]. In a zero-sum world, the priorities of liberalism and social democracy have to change, with the militant defense of democracy becoming front and center [7].

The defense of democracies against subversion and foreign interference means changing the approach to politics in a world where Trump rules America and Putin's hackers and proxies are running riot within European civil society [8]. The Labour Party, of which Paul Mason is a member, needs to operate in a zero-sum world, where rapid and demonstrative policies of redistribution need to start delivering change up front [9].

While the AfD's strategy bears similarities to Hitler's approach in the late Weimar Republic, it is important to note that Germany today is more stable and prosperous [10]. However, the potential for polarization and the rise of far-right parties remains a significant concern in many countries, including Germany and the UK.

References: 1. The Guardian 2. Der Spiegel 3. ADL Report 4. BBC News 5. Politico 6. The Independent 7. The New Statesman 8. The Washington Post 9. The Guardian 10. Deutsche Welle

The rise of far-right parties, such as Germany's Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), echoes the divisive strategies seen in politics of other countries, like the United States under Donald Trump.
The AfD, similar to Trump's approach, leverages culture wars and identity politics to fracture traditional party alignments, instigating a deep political and cultural polarization.
Besides political tactics, the AfD also seeks to exploit domestic factors, particularly focusing on the presence of Russian-aligned voters and gender and identity conflicts in Germany's sociopolitical context.
This politically charged atmosphere has unfortunately led to an increase in incidents of antisemitism, as reported by the US Anti-Defamation League.
Stricter laws are needed to curb foreign funding of political parties and prevent political violence and intimidation.
In a world governed by Trump and Russian hackers, defense of democracies requires a shift in political priorities, with the militant defense of democracy becoming front and center.
To counter such threats, liberal and social democratic parties must focus on delivering rapid and demonstrative policies of redistribution and economic security.
As Germany and the UK grapple with the rise of far-right parties and political polarization, it's crucial to remember the lessons of the past, particularly the Weimar Republicand the strategies employed by Hitler.