Alternative für Deutschland, AfD (Alternative for Germany)
Type: A prominent right-wing populist political party in Germany
Organisational Ideology: Far-right/right-wing populism/Anti-immigration/Anti-Islam
Headquarters: Berlin, Germany
Founded: 6 February 2013
Founder(s): Alexander Gauland/Bernd Lucke/Konrad Adam
Key Members: Tino Chrupalla/Alice Weidel/Alexander Gauland/Stephan Brandner/Peter Boehringer/Mariana Harder-Kühnel
Online Resources
AfD.de (official website)
571K followers
221K followers
156K followers
209.1K followers
Overview
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is a right-wing populist political party in Germany, founded in 2013 as an anti-Euro party. It later shifted its focus to issues such as immigration, Islam, and national identity. According to its website, “We are doing all we can to fundamentally renew our country in the spirit of freedom and democracy and to reassert these principles. We want to permanently preserve human dignity, the family with children, our Western Christian culture, our language and tradition in a peaceful, democratic and sovereign national state of the German people.” However, the AfD has been widely known for its controversial stances and has faced scrutiny regarding extremist activities and associations.
The AfD emerged as a strong proponent of stricter immigration controls, emphasising the preservation of German culture and identity. Additionally, the party has been critical of Islam and multiculturalism in Germany, expressing concerns about the integration of Muslim immigrants. Some AfD politicians have made controversial statements related to immigration, Islam, and other issues, leading to accusations of xenophobia and racism.
The party has experienced internal struggles between more moderate and right-wing factions, leading to the expulsion of members due to extremist associations or statements. Despite controversies, the AfD has achieved electoral success in various regional and national elections, holding a decent number of seats in the Bundestag and several state parliaments.
In July 2023, AfD achieved two victories in local elections in the eastern part of the country. For the first time, members of the party secured positions as a district administrator and a mayor. Additionally, in the eastern state of Thuringia, recent polls showed that AfD was backed by 34% of voters, significantly ahead of all other parties, making it Germany’s second strongest political force, behind only the Christian Democrats and Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU).
Despite the party’s unprecedented surge, Germany’s domestic intelligence service has classified the AfD as a “suspected case” of anti-constitutional behaviour, and other parties across the political spectrum have declared their refusal to cooperate with the AfD, at least at the national level. Prominent AfD politicians regularly express xenophobic rhetoric, blurring the lines between official party structures, particularly within the party’s radical wing, and Germany’s broader collection of right-wing extremist and neo-Nazi groups. The COVID-19 pandemic fueled a surge in regular anti-government protests and conspiracy theories, further radicalising the party and its supporters.
Ties to Extremism
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has been widely criticised for its strong anti-immigration and anti-Islam narratives, which have been central to its political messaging. The party has exploited concerns about immigration and Islam in Germany to appeal to certain segments of the population and advance its nationalist agenda. For example, in May 2016, AfD members backed an election manifesto, entitled “Islam is not a part of Germany”, which claims “Islam is not compatible with the constitution”. The manifesto further demanded a ban on minarets, the towers of a mosque from where the call to Muslim prayer is made, and the burqa.
The party has frequently framed immigrants as a threat to German culture, identity, and economic well-being. AfD politicians have often used inflammatory language to portray immigrants as a burden on the welfare system and as potential security risks. This rhetoric has fueled tensions and divisions within German society and has led to accusations of promoting xenophobia and stoking fear of the "other."
In addition to its anti-immigration stance, the AfD has consistently targeted Islam and Muslim communities. The party has advocated for strict measures to limit the practice of Islam in Germany, such as banning the construction of new mosques, limiting the call to prayer, and prohibiting the wearing of Islamic religious symbols in public spaces. Such proposals have been widely criticised for infringing on religious freedom and promoting discrimination against Muslims.
The party’s anti-immigration and anti-Islam narratives have not only polarised German society but have also sparked concerns about the rise of far-right extremism in the country. A DW article, published in July 2023, mentions that numerous AfD members have expressed discontent with “multiculturalism” and “mass immigration.” For example, Petr Bystron, an AfD representative from Bavaria, voiced his concerns, stating that “the migrant quotas, the forced allocation of migrants, all that’s an attack on everything we hold dear, our culture, our religion, yes, our homeland.”
Various other anti-EU remarks from the AfD conference have been highlighted in the German media, particularly remarks made by Björn Höcke, the party’s leader in the state of Thuringia, where he unequivocally stated: “EU must die, so the true Europe may live.” According to the head of German domestic intelligence, AfD has been increasingly swayed by extremist conspiracy theorists.
It is important to note that while the AfD has gained massive support by tapping into these sentiments, its views on immigration and Islam are not representative of the majority of Germans or mainstream political parties in the country. Many Germans and other moderate political leaders have condemned the party’s divisive narratives and called for a more inclusive and tolerant approach to immigration and religious diversity.
