The Division Wall in Mind: An Analysis of the Continuous East-West Divide in Germany after Reunification

Abstract: German elections have attracted the attention of stakeholders from all over the world over the past few decades. This article will focus on the important role played by the Alternative fr Deutschland (AfD) party in the German election process. German Alternative fr Deutschlands support in national polls, as well as its success in regional elections, has posed an alarming threat for many Germans. Ruling parties and foreign countries have unanimously expressed their concern over this mass-based success, labeling it as the turning point of German politics. The paper will attribute the contrasting support rates in the East and West Germany to the lasting regional divide in economy, society and culture, and reveal the historical reasons behind respectively. There is no coincidence that the Right ideology is again gaining grounds in German politics, since the division period and reunification policies have both left irreversible impacts on the unified country, making voters vulnerable to AfD promises.