“Alternative for Germany” and Russia: The Limits of the Possible

The article examines the history of Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and identifies three factions (liberal-conservative, moderate-conservative and national-conservative) and two strategic approaches they battle over: one that seeks entrance into the political establishment as a conservative alternative, and a fundamentally oppositional approach that resists the establishment’s attempts to absorb the AfD’s moderates. So far, the battle has been won by the faction that advocates the latter approach. Its strength and commercial pragmatism provide grounds for expecting cooperation with Russia in the energy and pan-European security spheres.