EditGermany’s AfD: rising extremism in former East Germany and vulnerability to Russian influence
The party’s success reflects a failure to fully integrate the region into a unified national identity
Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV), reported on Tuesday that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is harboring a growing number of right-wing extremists, with their numbers surging by 77% to 20,000 in 2024, driven by the party’s membership growth and rightward shift.
The AfD, which secured second place in the February 2025 federal election with 20.8% of the vote and 152 seats in the Bundestag, was classified as an “extremist” organisation last month, based on a 1,100-page report. This designation, which the AfD is legally challenging, enables intensified monitoring, including informant recruitment and communication intercepts.
The BfV highlighted the party’s xenophobic and anti-Muslim rhetoric, particularly targeting migrants from Islamic countries as culturally incompatible and prone to crime. The report also noted a 47.4% spike in right-wing extremist crimes in 2024, including six attempted murders and 23 arson cases, up from four and 16, respectively, in 2023. In eastern Germany, where the AfD enjoys its strongest support, leaders like Björn Höcke have made statements challenging the constitutional order, raising alarms about the party’s intentions and its susceptibility to Russian influence.
Why AfD thrives in former East Germany
The AfD’s dominance in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) states – particularly Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg – stems from a unique blend of historical, economic, and cultural factors that distinguish eastern Germany from its western counterpart. In September 2024, the AfD achieved historic victories, winning 33% of the vote in Thuringia and securing strong second-place finishes in Saxony (30%) and Brandenburg (29%), making it the strongest political force in the east. This success reflects deep-seated grievances that the party has adeptly exploited.
Economic and social disparities
Despite 35 years since reunification, eastern Germany lags economically behind the west. In 2024, eastern states contributed only 8% to Germany’s GDP, with unemployment rates averaging 7.5% compared to 5.5% in western states. The privatization of state-owned enterprises after 1990 often benefited western businesses, leaving easterners feeling colonized rather than unified. The AfD capitalizes on this resentment, framing western elites and mainstream parties like the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Social Democratic Party (SPD) as neglectful of eastern interests.
Cultural and political alienation
Eastern Germany’s 40 years under communist rule shaped a distinct political identity. Historian Christina Morina argues that the GDR’s “pseudo-democracy,” which claimed to represent the “true will” of the people against Western capitalism, left a legacy of scepticisms toward liberal democracy. This makes eastern voters more receptive to the AfD’s anti-establishment narrative, which portrays Germany’s constitutional order as a “cartel” of elitist parties. Björn Höcke’s August 2024 claim that elections could “implode the cartel party system” resonates with easterners who feel unrepresented by Berlin’s political mainstream.
Xenophobia and immigration fears
The AfD’s anti-immigrant platform, particularly its Islamophobic rhetoric, finds fertile ground in the east, where populations are more homogenous. Despite fewer immigrants compared to western states, easterners express greater fear of cultural change. A 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that 26% of eastern men view the AfD favorably, compared to 11% of women, with xenophobic sentiments driving support. The party’s framing of migrants as threats to security and resources amplifies these fears, especially after high-profile incidents like the 2024 terrorist attacks attributed to migrants.
Russian influence
Eastern Germany’s experience under authoritarian regimes – first Nazism, then communism – has fostered a cultural affinity for strong leadership. The AfD’s strength in eastern Germany also makes it a vector for Russian influence, as the party’s pro-Russian stance aligns with lingering anti-Western sentiments and historical ties to Moscow. This vulnerability is rooted in both ideological alignment and documented connections to Russian operatives.
AfD has consistently opposed Germany’s support for Ukraine, criticised sanctions against Russia, and echoed Kremlin narratives blaming NATO for the Ukraine conflict. A 2024 Pew survey found that 45% of AfD supporters view Russian President Vladimir Putin favorably, compared to 10% of non-supporters. In eastern Germany, where nostalgia for Soviet-era stability persists, this stance resonates.
Investigations have uncovered financial and political links between the AfD and Russia. A 2024 OCCRP investigation revealed that AfD members received payments from Russia’s International Agency for Current Policy, while Der Spiegel reported that senior figures like Maximilian Krah and Petr Bystron accepted funds to spread pro-Russian propaganda. In 2019, AfD parliamentarian Ulrich Oehme met with pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk, signalling early coordination. These ties suggest a deliberate Kremlin strategy to bolster the AfD as a means to weaken European unity and NATO.
Eastern Germany’s Cold War alignment with the Soviet Union fosters a lingering distrust of Western institutions like NATO and the EU. The AfD exploits this by portraying the West as imperialist and Russia as a counterbalance.
The AfD’s rise in eastern Germany, coupled with its extremist designation, poses a dilemma for German democracy, and the party’s vulnerability to Russian influence exacerbates these risks. According to experts addressing this requires tackling economic disparities, countering disinformation, and fostering trust in democratic institutions. Without such efforts, the AfD’s extremist elements and Russian influence could further polarise Germany, threatening its role as a pillar of European stability.
With Reuters, Pew Research, edited by g.g.g.
Caption: An anti-AfD placard is held by a participant during a demonstration calling for a ban on Germany’s far-right AfD party under the slogan ‘No more excuses! AfD ban now!’, in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, 11 May 2025. [EPA-EFE/FILIP SINGER]
Updated: June 11, 2025 - 06:33
