Christian Democratic Union of Germany



http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/brandenburg-gate-and-the-tv-tower-in-berlin-royalty-free-image/507142032

Here’s a first-rate article from Germany’s DW. In their post-election analysis, researchers say that the Alternative for Germany‘s success cannot be reduced to any one particular group. Nonetheless, as a community, AfD supporters are unlike other German voters.

Source: AfD mobilized irrational fears of future, especially in the east, say pollsters | In Depth | DW | 25.09.2017

This article puts the AfD election success in context. There are six core threads emerging. Here are the main threads:

The AfD is strong not just in the east, but also among younger eastern voters
The AfD recruits significant support from former non-voters on the Internet
The AfD’s success does not represent a massive lurch to the right
The AfD is a protest party but not only that
The AfD depends on fear of foreigners that is actually a fear of the modern world
The AfD is fundamentally different from other German parties

Time will tell whether these are the only factors. For sure, Germany must face radical change in the workplace, like other advanced countries, and we must hope that those people most affected, especially the young, do not turn to the Far Right.

Since 1945, modern Germany has emerged as a beacon of democracy, with a balance of power between political classes, workers, business and the law, especially the Constitutional Court. Unfortunately, Germany’s post-war success is probably not sustainable for all. Whilst business and the wider economy will continue to grow and compete, Germany’s labour force will potentially become more hostile.

Thoughts?

English: Nazi party leaders’ arm bands (national level leaders), Third Reich. Fort Lewis Military Museum, Fort Lewis, Washington, USA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Embed from Getty Images

English: Dust jacket of the book Mein Kampf, written by Adolf Hitler. Courtesy of the New York Public Library Digital Collection. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I’m rather surprised at this article published in the New Yorker. It seems to sympathize with Frauke Petry, mother, scientist, and leader of Germany’s most successful nationalist phenomenon since the Second World War, the AfD.

Source: The New Star of Germany’s Far Right – The New Yorker

Petry is portrayed as an intelligent, rational leader. For me, the author should have taken a stronger position either for or against the far-right AfD. The article was rather wishy washy, neither objective nor subjective reporting.

I take strong exception to both the Far Left and the Far Right because for both the end justifies the means. Leaders of both the Far Left and Far Right, like Petry are presented as populist leaders but they are generally surrounded by extremists fanning fear which sometimes leads to violence. It’s important to remember the last Far Right government in Germany – the Nazi Party led by Hitler.

Thoughts?