The AfD’s Populist Origins: Historic Decline and 2015 Transformation

Composed during a period of increased attention on the appeal and electoral prospects of the German <em>Alternativ f&uuml;r Deutschland</em> (AfD) party, which capitalized on dissatisfaction with the three-party <em>Ampelkoalition</em> (&ldquo;traffic light&rdquo; government), this analysis investigates the movement&rsquo;s origins and development. Qualifying the AfD&rsquo;s early manifestation as that of a &ldquo;soft Euroskeptic&rdquo; party, this paper examines the movement&rsquo;s evolution against the backdrop of key sociopolitical developments in 2010s German society. Arguing that internal leadership changes pulled the party further into the right-wing populist realm during a period of animated political contestation over immigration, this analysis illustrates the developments that created today&rsquo;s AfD. This research engages with both geography of discontent literature to explain the party&rsquo;s appeal in eastern Germany and recent voting data to identify its evolving base. In charting the AfD&rsquo;s development and appeal, this article illuminates the origins and draw of the far-right populist party reshaping German politics today.