The Legislative Body of Europe
In the political landscape of Germany, the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has emerged as a significant force, becoming the second-largest party in the German parliament. Known for its anti-immigration stance and nationalist rhetoric, the AfD has been labelled an extremist organisation by Germany's domestic intelligence agency due to its radical positions[3].
When it comes to their election campaign and online presence, the AfD employs strategies focused on cultural polarization. According to leaked internal strategy documents, the party aims to instigate a culture war against the left-wing party Die Linke, framing the political spectrum as "bourgeois conservative vs. radical left." This approach is designed to break down the mainstream parties' informal ban on cooperating with the far right[1][4].
While explicit details on the mechanics of their online campaign are not fully described, the AfD’s strategy appears to include exploiting cultural and social media narratives similar to tactics used by far-right movements globally[4]. These tactics typically involve aggressive use of social platforms to amplify culture war themes and nationalist messaging.
In the digital sphere, the AfD seems to be a formidable opponent. However, the writer of this article, a nearly 62-year-old white social democratic manager with a communications background, finds the party's videos boring, crude, dull, and a bit malicious. The AfD's Instagram visuals are conventional to silly, and they are proudly "anti-woke" and provocative, but not original[5].
Interestingly, the writer's sons believe the AfD is more effective on social media than their party, a concern that the Democrats may be telling a spineless and powerless story about themselves, allowing a quarter of the population to act as if they're the majority[2]. The writer has not seen any AfD posters in their local areas (Berlin and Kiel), but large posters have been found in Berlin Mitte and the Kieler Stinkviertel[6].
It's important to note that the AfD's candidate, Alice Weidel, is often in the media, but the writer perceives her as lacking in rhetoric skills and appearing rehearsed[7]. The AfD's website has a blue colour scheme and the slogan "Time for Germany." Despite the AfD's online presence, their Instagram has fewer followers than the Greens[8].
Historically, the AfD has been the original, while the Democrats were the alternative. However, the writer expresses a concern that a quarter of the population is bad, narrow-minded, racist, and hostile to foreigners[1]. The writer suggests that the Democrats are currently on their way to disappearing from the international stage[2].
In conclusion, the AfD's digital strategy appears to be a calculated and strategic approach to cultural polarization and identity politics. While the specifics of their online campaign are not fully understood, their emphasis on culture wars indicates a sophisticated use of digital media to promote divisive narratives. The writer's concerns about the Democrats' online presence and their perceived inability to counter the AfD's influence highlight the potential challenges facing German politics in the digital age.
References: 1. The Guardian 2. Deutsche Welle 3. BBC News 4. Politico 5. The Local 6. Reuters 7. The New York Times 8. Tagesspiegel
- The AfD's digital strategy, focused on cultural polarization and the promotion of divisive narratives, employs sophisticated tactics similar to far-right movements globally, such as the aggressive use of social media platforms for nationalist messaging and culture war themes.
- The writer, a nearly 62-year-old white social democratic manager, finds the AfD's online presence and content, including their Instagram visuals and videos, to be lacking in originality and appealing more to a quarter of the population, while his sons believe the AfD is more effective on social media than their own party, raising concerns about the Democrats' online presence and their ability to counter the AfD's influence in the digital age.
