The new IKV report titled “The Populist Radical Right in Germany: Ideology & Policies of Alternative Für Deutschland (AfD)” written by IKV Researcher Emre Ataç, was published in June 2019 (Publication No: 303).

The greatest political challenge to liberal democracy within Germany today is the AfD, the first far-right party in the country’s post-war history to be represented in all states and in the federal legislature.

Founded in 2013 as a party opposing Germany’s stance of trying to save the eurozone, the AfD veered sharply to the populist radical right and adopted a strongly anti-Islam profile in 2015. The new line has been quite successful, especially in the former East German states. After securing representation in 14 of the 16 German state parliaments by October 2017, the AfD became the third-largest party in Germany after the 2017 federal election, claiming 94 seats in the Bundestag, a major breakthrough for the party as it was the first time the AfD had won any seats in the Bundestag.

The AfD is the most significant new party in German politics for a generation. In recent years AfD has captivated German politics, media and voters. Yet both the party and the roots of its support remain poorly understood. Where has this political revolt come from? Who is supporting them, and why? How are AfD attempting to win over voters? And how far can their insurgency against the main parties go?

This report examines the AfD’s origins, evolution, and political ideology. The report begins with a detailed look at the AfD’s programmatic evolution since its inception, highlighting the party’s leadership and political platform. Next, it examines the socio-political conditions that contributed to the AfD’s rise, and how the AfD leveraged those conditions to achieve electoral successes. Drawing on party manifestos, as well as statements of party leadership, this study seeks to find the elements in the party’s core message ultimately leading to its success over time.

To read the report, please click here.

The Populist Radical Right in Germany: Ideology & Policies of Alternative Für Deutschland (AfD)

Author: Emre Ataç

Publication No: 303

Publication date: June 2019

Number of pages: 60

ISBN: 978-605-5984-97-7