Gespräch mit dem Handelsblatt über die Koalitionskrise in Sachsen-Anhalt und den Kurs der CDU

Das Handelsblatt hat mit dem Kollegen Niedermayer und mir über die Koalitionskrise in Sachsen-Anhalt, den Kurs der Landes-CDU gegenüber der AfD und den fehlenden Einfluss der Bundes-CDU auf die Situation gesprochen. Streit um Rundfunkbeitrag: Regierungskrise in Magdeburg: Ministerpräsident Haseloff entlässt Innenminister StahlknechtIn Sachsen-Anhalt hat der Streit in der Koalition aus CDU, SPD und Grünen zu…

A defection from the #AfD brings the number of parties in Germany’s parliament to 8. It could not matter less

When Lucke and his supporters left the AfD in 2015, they founded a new party called ALFA. Because another group with a similar name already existed, they had to change it to LKR, which stands for liberal-conservative reformers. This label neatly encapsulates Lucke’s vision for the AfD. It’s a brand that helped him to establish his…

Die AfD und die Geflüchteten: Interview mit dem Handelsblatt

Wie wichtig war die sogenannte Flüchtlingskrise für die AfD? Wie hat sich die Partei entwickelt, und was ist für die Zukunft zu erwarten? Mit Dietmar Neuerer vom Handelsblatt habe ich ausführlich über diese und andere Fragen zur AfD gesprochen. [contentcards url="https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/interview-wie-angela-merkel-die-afd-vor-dem-untergang-bewahrte/26143854.html" target="_blank"]

Meinungsartikel: Die #AfD in schlechter Gesellschaft

Die meisten Rechtspopulisten in Europa versuchen sich von der Geschichte zu distanzieren. Die AfD hingegen umarmt den klassischen Rechtsextremismus. Das kann ihr langfristig schaden. [contentcards url="https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/die-afd-und-ihre-europaeischen-pendants-in-schlechter-gesellschaft/26034830.html" target="_blank"]  

Italian Populism, Trump’s voters, Germany’s Home Office, and Neo-Nazis in Russia : 4 links I liked

Italian Populism, Trump's voters, Germany's Home Office, and Neo-Nazis in Russia : 4 links I liked 1

A retired “general”, a symbolism that is borrowed from France’s Yellow Vests – what could possibly go wrong? Meet Italy’s latest populist craze, the Orange Jackets.

Germany’s Home Secretary said in an interview that the AfD wants to destroy the state and put this interview on the Home Office’s website. Now the FCC ruled that he was not allowed to do that. But the ruling does not say that Seehofer’s claim is factually incorrect. Like in previous cases, the judges upheld a kind of two-bodies-theory. As a politician, Seehofer was free to make this statement, but as a minister he was not allowed to use his official platform for distributing it.

Over at the Quantiative Peace, Joshua Zingher looks at Trump’s base. The bottom line? Trump’s 2020 path to the presidency is narrow. May he stray from it.

Why are German Nazis training in Russia“? That is a bit of a rhetorical question, but the article has at least some answers.

Bonus track: German IR theory-building kit (thread)

How important are Germany’s eastern states for the AfD?

What? I’m currently working on a paper that looks into the role that Germany’s eastern states (aka “the new Länder”, the ex-GDR …) played for the breakthrough and the consolidation of the “Alternative for Germany” party. This figure shows support for the AfD from 2013 to 2020. The graph is a teeny-weeny bit busy, so…

Gespräch mit dem “Kurier” über den Zustand der AfD

Die Umfragewerte der AfD sind vergleichsweise schlecht, in der Corona-Krise ist die Partei kein relevanter Akteur. Die Gründe dafür sind nicht ganz neu. Mit dem Kurier aus Wien habe ich über die strukturellen Probleme der Partei gesprochen. [contentcards url="https://kurier.at/politik/ausland/afd-alte-graeben-wieder-aufgerissen/400850855" target="_blank"]

AfD schließt Kalbitz aus: Gespräch mit dem Handelsblatt

Das Handelsblatt hat mit Politikern und Politikwissenschaftlern über den Ausschluss von Andreas Kalbitz aus der AfD gesprochen. [contentcards url="https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/alternative-fuer-deutschland-politiker-sehen-afd-trotz-kalbitz-rauswurf-weiter-auf-rechtskurs/25836914.html?ticket=ST-2246182-maKslMYbHt9tAcuXiagD-ap6" target="_blank"]

Who are the Germans protesting against the COVID-19 measures, and who is benefiting?

Who are the Germans protesting against the COVID-19 measures, and who is benefiting? 2

Last weekend, thousands of Germans took to the streets to protest against the anti-Corona policies. The scenes were quite extraordinary and were widely reported in German and in international media, not least because the rallies were attended by far-right actors and conspiracy theorists. The good folks at Handelsblatt interviewed some colleagues and me, and someone…