ABSTRACT
Despite the short history of AfD, we can already say that AfD is the most successful radical right populist party in Germany since the Second World War. This chapter looks at the preconditions for the launch of this party, which involves a brief examination of the 2010 Sarrazin debate. It reflects on the differences in the conditions for the establishment of earlier radical right populist parties and for this new party. It also gives a short history of AfD, introduces the key figures in leadership positions, and analyzes internal debates within the party. It could be shown that the party started as a neoliberal populist party and gradually morphed into a radical right populist party, with some right-wing extremist elements. In fact, AfD went so far to the right that it attracted the attention of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) and other inland security agencies, which are now observing the party due to the suspicion of right-wing extremism. This could be a turning point for AfD, because the observation by BfV certainly brings a stigmatization with it which may reduce the appeal of the party in the eyes of some voters.
