To Russia with love? German populist actors' positions vis-a-vis the Kremlin
- Publication type:
- Chapter
- Metadata:
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- Abstract
- Russia's fresh attack on Ukraine and its many international and national repercussions have helped to revive the fortunes of Germany's main radical right-wing populist party 'Alternative for Germany' (AfD). Worries about traditional industries, energy prices, Germany's involvement in the war and hundreds of thousands of refugees arriving in Germany seem to have contributed to a modest rise in the polls after a long period of stagnation. However, the situation is more complicated for the AfD than it would appear at first glance. While many party leaders and the rank-and-file have long held sympathies for Putin and more generally for Russia, support for Ukraine is still strong amongst the German public, even if there is some disagreement about the right means and the acceptable costs. At least some AfD voters are appalled by the levels of Russian violence against civilians, and the party's electorate is divided as to the right course of action. To complicate matters, like on many other issues, there is a gap in opinion between Germany's formerly communist federal states in the East and the western half of the country. As a result, the AfD leadership needs to tread carefully or risk alienating party members and voters in the more populous western states. Beyond the AfD, the current and future consequences of the war have galvanised the larger far-right movement, particularly in the East. Moreover, they have led to further tensions in the left-wing populist "Linke" (left) party, which is traditionally pacifist and highly sceptical of NATO. The majority of the party tries to square commitment to these principles with solidarity with the victims of Russian aggression. A small but very visible faction, however, shows at least a degree of support for Russia and blames NATO and the US for the war.
- Autoren
- DOI
- 10.55271/rp0020
- ISBN-10
- 9464755482
- ISBN-13
- 9789464755480
- Buchtitel
- The Impacts of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine on Right-Wing Populismin Europe A Report by European Center for Populism Studies (ECPS) Brussels -- March 8, 2023
- Datum der Veröffentlichung
- 2023
- Datum der Datenerfassung
- 2024
- Titel
- To Russia with love? German populist actors' positions vis-a-vis the Kremlin
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