Germany is among the leading European countries where far-right views thrive. This is due to the country’s past experience with the Nazi era, which has facilitated the acceptance of right-wing populist nationalism and, consequently, neo-Nazi ideologies by various groups. In this context, while the country witnesses illegal movements like PEGIDA, it has also experienced an incident in December 2022 where a coup plotter group called “Reichsbürger” aimed to declare Prens 13. Henrich, who currently works as a real estate agent in Frankfurt, as emperor and was apprehended in the act.
Clearly, there is a rising trend of far-right ideology in Germany, which also enables the Alternative for Germany (AfD), a political party operating within the legal framework, to expand its voter base. It is worth noting that AfD received 10.3% of the votes in the 2021 elections. While this is a significant percentage, a survey published in June 2023 by DeutschlandTrend, a monthly poll, suggests that AfD’s support has reached 18%.[1] This situation raises the possibility of the far-right coming to power in Germany in the future.
The question that needs to be asked at this point is why and how the far-right has risen and become a focal point in Germany. Considering that xenophobia lies at the core of far-right ideology, it can be argued that uncontrolled migration movements have facilitated the internalization of far-right views by society. Additionally, the fact that these migration movements have predominantly originated from Muslim countries has contributed to the rise of Islamophobia over the years.
Therefore, it is possible to assert that Islamophobia, which gained momentum after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks organized by the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization and has its roots dating back to the 1973 Oil Crisis, reached its peak with the Arab Spring and particularly the migration movements following the Syrian Civil War. This, as seen in the example of Germany, paves the way for the strengthening of the far-right. During such periods, when economic problems deepen in countries receiving migrants, nationalist reflexes come to the forefront among the masses. This, in turn, directs groups who are uneasy with economic, sociological, and demographic changes towards far-right ideologies. In such an environment, it is observed that populist politicians opt for radical rhetoric to capitalize on the situation for electoral gains.
Indeed, the support that AfD has gained in the public opinion polls in June 2023 is not solely related to Islamophobia. There is a much deeper development that has profoundly shaken Europe, and that is the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War, which started on February 24, 2022. Following the war, European Union (EU) countries have attempted to implement common policies and imposed sanctions targeting the Moscow government. However, the energy crisis that ensued and the increasing problems in meeting energy demands have exacerbated economic issues in Germany as an industrial powerhouse. Additionally, the rising food prices due to the Grain Crisis have seemingly strengthened nationalist reflexes in Germany.
In this sense, the idea that Germany should act in line with its own interests has gained strength, and criticisms of the EU’s policies have emerged. Although the argument of defending democracies holds to some extent, fundamentally, the German right-wing is concerned about the cost of estranging Russia for the sake of Ukraine.
On the other hand, it can be argued that the issue of Ukrainian migrants has also played a role in the rise of the far-right within the context of anti-immigrant sentiment. As employment issues increase, people tend to search for culprits for the problems they face and target migrants. The rise of AfD can also be understood through these factors. In fact, the impact [2] of the 2022 surge in irregular migration to Europe, reaching the highest level since 2016, seems to have resulted in increased support for AfD in Germany in June 2023.
As expected, the rise of AfD may lead other political ideologies to develop more nationalist rhetoric in order to reach the electorate. This, in parallel with the rise of a sharp nation-state understanding, can undermine the sense of solidarity within the EU. In other words, the rise of the far-right indicates a divided Europe.
Furthermore, the prominence of national ambitions will increase objections to the United States’ global hegemony. This will deepen the rift in transatlantic relations. The growing popularity of right-wing populist politics in various European countries, including Germany, can result in a “divided West.” Of course, this situation would harm the global goals of the United States.
In conclusion, the xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment that gained momentum after the Arab Spring and the Syrian Civil War have strengthened the far-right in various European countries. The addition of the Russia-Ukraine War to this process has further accelerated the rise of the far-right. Although this situation is not limited to Germany alone, surveys indicating increased interest in AfD in the country serve as an important example.
[1] “German far Right Surges in Polls, Alarming Mainstream Parties”, Euronews, https://www.euronews.com/2023/06/02/german-far-right-surges-in-polls-alarming-mainstream-parties, (Date of Accession: 03.06.2023).
[2] “Migrant Entry Numbers into Europe Hit Six-Year High in 2022”, The Hindu, https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/migrant-entry-numbers-into-europe-hit-six-year-high/article66373517.ece/amp/, (Date of Accession: 03.06.2023).
