IDEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS AND ELECTORAL SUPPORT OF THE FAR-RIGHT POLITICAL FORCE OF GERMANY “ALTERNATIVE FOR GERMANY” (2013–2025)
Keywords:
Germany, far-right parties, «Alternative for Germany», populism, electoral support, national security, threats to European security, Russian-Ukrainian war
Abstract
The article analyzes the ideological foundations and reasons for the electoral support of the German far-right party «Alternative for Germany» (AfD) from its creation in 2013 to its success in the 2025 federal elections. The evolution of AfD’s ideological foundations and factors of its electoral growth are critically analyzed. It is established that AfD evolved from a neoliberal economic platform to a nationalist-conservative position with elements of extremism. The party was formed from conservative factions of the CDU dissatisfied with Angela Merkel’s policies. Key ideological components of the political force became: anti-migration rhetoric, particularly Islamophobia; the concept of «de-foreignization» of German culture and language; ultra-nationalism; pro-Russian position, condemnation of anti-Russian sanctions.Electoral analysis showed AfD support growth from 1,9% (2013) to 20,8% (2025) with the highest support in eastern German states (Saxony – 37,3%, Thuringia – 38,6%), which correlated with the economic backwardness of these regions and lower percentage of foreign citizens. The sociological profile of AfD voters was characterized by male predominance (73% among permanent voters), lower education levels, high unemployment, extremely low trust in state institutions.After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, AfD voters demonstrated the most negative attitude toward Ukrainian refugees and disagreement with the German government’s support for Ukraine, reflecting the party’s pro-Russian platform. AfD’s political success was conditioned by a combination of economic dissatisfaction, cultural backlash against globalization, regional disparities, and effective populist mobilization. The AfD phenomenon demonstrates the persistence of ultra- radical beliefs in a significant part of German society and threats to the European democratic system.
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33. Spier T. Modernisierungsverlierer? Die Wählerschaft rechtspopulistischer Parteien in Westeuropa. Berlin, 2010. 274 p. URL: https://content.e-bookshelf.de/media/reading/L-17930-a3185f004a.pdf (дата звернення: 16.06.2025).
34. Volkswirtschaftliche Gesamtrechnungen der Länder. Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder. 2021. URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20211214153911/https://www.statistikportal.de/de/vgrdl/ergebnisse-laenderebene/bruttoinlandsprodukt-bruttowertschoepfung/bip#9517 (дата звернення: 12.06.2025).
35. Volkswirtsсhaftliсhe Gesamtreсhnungen der Länder. Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder. 2025. URL: https://web.arсhive.org/web/20250516184226/https://www.statistikportal.de/de/vgrdl/ergebnisse-laenderebene/bruttoinlandsprodukt-bruttowertschoepfung/bip#9517 (дата звернення: 12.06.2025).
36. Vonberg J. Leading member of German far-right party resigns after Converting to Islam. CNN World. 2018. January 24. URL: https://editionnn.com/2018/01/24/europe/germany-afd-islam-arthur-wagner-intl (дата звернення: 24.05.2025).
37. Zeidan A. Salafi movement. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2024. December 12. URL: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Salafi-movement (дата звернення: 23.05.2025).
Published
2025-11-28
How to Cite
Khakhula, L., & Smykalova, N. (2025). IDEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS AND ELECTORAL SUPPORT OF THE FAR-RIGHT POLITICAL FORCE OF GERMANY “ALTERNATIVE FOR GERMANY” (2013–2025). Litopys Volyni, (33), 209-216. https://doi.org/10.32782/2305-9389/2025.33.35
Section
World history
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
