(iPoster) “AfD: Achtung für Demokratie?”: Extremist Ideologies and Polarization in Germany

• In Event: Poster Session: Political Psychology I & II
  In Poster Session: Poster Session: Political Psychology II

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between extremist political ideologies and polarized constituencies in Germany, focusing on the rise of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) and its impact on democratic processes. Using data from the GLES Cross-Section 2021 and the results of the 2021 Bundestagswahl (federal election), I examine the geographic, socio-economic, and ideological factors contributing to the AfD’s popularity. I propose that constituencies with higher levels of skepticism towards political integrity and economic disparities, particularly in former East Germany, show stronger support for the AfD and other extremist parties while also exploring the role of state-skeptic attitudes in exacerbating political polarization and support for extremist ideologies. My findings suggest that addressing the root causes of economic and social dissatisfaction is crucial for mitigating the influence of extremist parties in German politics.

Author

• Katherine Annemarie Keil, Northwestern University