The AfD are winning elections: Is the German far-right back?
About this episode
The episode discusses the rise of the far-right AfD party in Germany and its implications for the political landscape in Europe.
A far-right party is on the verge of forming a German state government for the first time since World War II. The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has surged in Saxony-Anhalt, raising questions that extend well beyond one regional election. Is this the latest chapter in a political shift that has been building across Europe for more than a decade? Or could it mark a deeper break with the post-war order that shaped modern Germany, the European Union and NATO? Hamish Macdonald and Waleed Aly examine the rise of the AfD, why eastern Germany has become its strongest base, and what reunification left unresolved. They trace the broader populist wave from the global financial crisis to Orbán, Brexit, Meloni, Le Pen and Trump, and ask whether Germany's political "firewall" against the far right is beginning to crack. Plus: Waleed reflects on the arguments behind his new Quarterly Essay, What Future for Liberalism? and why he believes the challenge facing liberal democracy runs deeper than any single election result. You can find Waleed's Quarterly Essay here Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via…
People in this episode
Host: Hamish Macdonald
Guest: Waleed Aly
Topics covered
- far-right politics
- German elections
- populism in Europe
- political shifts
- liberal democracy
- reunification issues
Keywords
- AfD
- Germany
- far-right
- populism
- elections
- liberalism
- political shift
- eastern Germany
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Alternative für Deutschland
Books & works: What Future for Liberalism?
Places: Germany, Saxony-Anhalt, European Union, NATO
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