From Ostpolitik to Putinpolitik: the AfD’s Affinity for Russia

This project aims to identify why pro-Putin or pro-Russia sentiments are more common among Alternativ für Deutschland (AfD) members from the former German Democratic Republic (GDR). The project contributes to the ongoing discussion on populism, economic nationalism, and right-wing extremism by using the AfD in Eastern Germany as a case study. Using historical materialism as a theoretical lens, the paper investigates how the historical and material conditions in Eastern Germany contributed to pro-Putin sentiments among Eastern AfD members. The study analyzed social media posts and public statements from AfD members in the German parliament (Bundestag) to classify all 80 AfD MPs in the Bundestag on a scale from pro-Putin to anti-Putin. The study then utilized thematic coding, regression analysis, and content analysis to investigate the relationship between the pro-Putin MPs and economic, historic, or social conditions that may contribute to the AfD’s support for Russia. This project argues that Eastern German MPs are more likely to advocate for pro- Russia policies due to historic and economic conditions in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) and post-reunification. By examining AfD MPs’ statements in favor of Russia or Putin, this project demonstrates how the historical, social, and economic conditions during and after German reunification have affected German politics today. Ultimately, the research contributes to a better understanding of the political divide between Western and Eastern Europe, demonstrating how the legacy of the Cold War still influences contemporary European politics.