AfD political rise analyzed through fiction and sociology

The rising political influence of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) is being analyzed through both speculative fiction and sociological research. In the book ‘Deutschland 2033’, author Justus Bender explores a hypothetical scenario where the AfD enters a coalition with the CDU, leading to a gradual erosion of democratic institutions and the transformation of Germany into an illiberal state.

Sociologist Matthias Quent notes that the AfD's success, particularly in regions like Saxony-Anhalt, stems from a slogan of ‘everything is possible’. This messaging serves as a promise of political agency for supporters while acting as a perceived threat to others. Quent emphasizes that the party's strength is not limited to eastern Germany, suggesting that the political shifts observed are part of a broader societal transformation.