Why Is the Far Right Rising in Germany?

Germany is a country that knows what it means to be tested by crises. Many years have passed since the Second World War, but recently old debates have begun to resurface on the political stage.

Far-right parties are rising, their rhetoric is setting the agenda, and election results are changing. So how does this happen in a modern, prosperous and democratic country? The answer of course does not come down to a single cause. Many intertwined economic, social and psychological factors are at play.

The Age of Insecurity

The pulse beats in the wallet, and the palpitations have already begun.

In general, the far right grows stronger in times of “fear and uncertainty”. In Germany, energy prices have risen in recent years, rents have gone up and inflation has eaten into wages. Even the middle class has begun to say, “The future is not as secure as it used to be.” In this climate, some parties (the AfD, for example) have managed to translate anger into simple, memorable language. They point now to foreigners, now to the government’s “weak” policies as the source of the problems.

In such times, people tend to be more easily influenced by one another and to become anxious more quickly. For a country whose recent history is full of disasters, even the thought of facing scarcity again is enough to frighten people. Indeed, the way large numbers of Germans stockpiled supplies during the coronavirus pandemic and since the start of the Russia–Ukraine war is an example of this.

The Resentment of East Germany

“Nobody heard us.”

After reunification in 1990, the eastern states did not develop as quickly as the western ones. Factories closed, young people moved away, towns grew old. Many people felt like “second-class citizens”. Today these are also the regions where the far right is strongest. One emotional sentence actually sums up the situation: “We worked for years but nobody heard us; at least they listen to us.” In other words, it is not just about money; the psychology of not being seen and not being taken seriously burns as fiercely as the economic problem.

Despite the devastation of the Second World War, the German production system was soon running again, and it still serves as an economic locomotive in Europe and the world. It must feel humiliating for citizens of a country famed for its pride, the architects of such a success, not to be valued enough in their own country.

The Debate on Migration and Identity

The target of fear is “the other”

In 2015, Germany took in more than a million asylum seekers. Merkel’s words “Wir schaffen das” (“We can do this”) were a source of pride for some and of anxiety for others. As crime reports involving migrants came to the fore in the media, the perception that “migrant = threat” took hold.

Yet many areas of the economy, from hospitals to construction and from logistics to retail, rely on migrant labour. Reality is complex, but the far right knows that emotions move faster and builds its rhetoric accordingly.

The Pandemic and the Age of Conspiracy

“Is the state lying to us?”

Lockdowns, mask rules and vaccination rules during Covid-19 fuelled debates about freedom. Conspiracy theories spreading on social media shook trust in the state and the media. The far right organised this distrust with concepts such as “corona dictatorship”. The pandemic is over, but the suspicion it left in people’s minds lingers.

The Ukraine War and the Energy Shock

“Our own people first.”

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drove up energy prices. Inflation and bills rose. The line “The government is pouring money into Ukraine and forgetting us” resonated especially among those struggling economically. The historical sympathy for Russia in the East strengthened this ground. The phrase “our own people first” targeted precisely this feeling.

Distrust of the Political Establishment

“They talk, but nothing changes.”

Although the traditional parties (SPD, CDU/CSU, the Greens, FDP) reach compromises in coalitions, the slowness of reforms, bureaucratic complexity and the costly energy transition give voters the impression of “a lot of talk, few solutions”. In particular, the failure to form strong governments in the post-Merkel era, and chancellors who are neither listened to nor taken seriously in the world, also deprive the country of the power that money brings.

The far right appeals to this weariness by saying, “We are different, we say what cannot be said.” Being different does not always mean being right, but the coldness of political language makes this rhetoric attractive.

Media and Social Media

Fear spreads fast.

A large share of news is now consumed on platforms such as TikTok, Facebook and X (Twitter). Short videos, striking headlines and emotional content deepen the divide between “us” and “them”. Sensational events make the headlines, ordinary successes are relegated to footnotes. This skews perception towards exaggeration. Far-right groups use these echo chambers very effectively.

Another notable feature of recent times is incidents that surface when needed. Reports of crimes involving refugees or migrants, which rarely make the news in normal times, suddenly multiply at election time. Society is manipulated against foreigners, and the nationalist vote rises.

At election time, the visibility of reports on migration and crime increases. Some observers say that ratings and electoral calculations influence news choices. This is why media language stands on a critical line between “producing fear” and “informing”. Reporting in the public interest, avoiding generalisations and showing context is today’s most important press responsibility.

Turning Points of Recent Years

The street and the ballot box…

The Potsdam meeting (2023): When a gathering at which harsh plans such as “remigration” were allegedly discussed came to light, hundreds of thousands of people across the country took to the streets against the far right.

Thuringia (2024): For the first time, the AfD became the largest party in a state. This was the symbol of its transition from a protest party to a “contender for power”.

Debates on migration and security (2025): Asylum applications and security issues rose to the top of the agenda. Some centrist parties hardened their rhetoric. This sparked debate about the “normalisation” of far-right ideas. In the federal election of February 2025, the AfD nearly doubled its vote and became the second-largest party with 20.8%. In September 2026 it came first in Saxony-Anhalt (43.8%) and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (38.2%), but it fell short of a majority in both; in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania the SPD, the Left and the Greens began coalition talks on a government without the AfD, and in Saxony-Anhalt government formation was still unresolved as of October 2026.

These events show both the depth of the discontent in society and that democratic reflexes (protests, civic objection) are still strong.

Migrants

Scapegoats or victims?

Migrants are at the centre of the debate, but they are mostly the side that is “talked about” and rarely the side that “speaks for itself”.

There is one reality: Many sectors in Germany would grind to a halt without migrant labour.

Another reality: In some areas, ghettoisation and language and education barriers are strong. These conditions feed the “us versus them” feeling. And the far right turns this into political gain with a simple but effective line such as “They get handouts, we work!”

The truth is this: No one is guilty because of where they were born. The problem is less “presence” than “inequality”. Equal opportunities and sound integration policies reduce tension. Neglect deepens division.

At a Crossroads

When people feel alone and worthless, authoritarian ideas quickly gain strength. When people feel heard and supported, democracy wins.

Germany today stands at a crossroads. On one side are anger, fear and polarisation; on the other, hope, solidarity and democracy. The rise of the far right is not only a political wave but also a social warning.

The past has taught us this: If fear grows, hatred wins; if empathy grows, democracy wins. Germany has the capacity. The point is to mobilise that capacity without surrendering to darkness. For that, a politics that does not hide the facts, a responsible media and a society whose members listen to one another are enough.