Far-Right Normalization in Germany? Understanding Its Dis-Linearities through a New Multi-Level Approach
Far-Right Normalization in Germany? Understanding Its Dis-Linearities through a New Multi-Level Approach
Thursday, 10 July 2025: 00:15
Location: SJES017 (Faculty of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences (JES))
Oral Presentation
A current major focus of research about right-wing populism/extremism is on investigating and explaining the electorate of far-right movements and parties in Europe. The adoption and spread of far-right ideologies and policies and therefore their normalization in the national public discourses and parliaments are also highly discussed against the backdrop of their rise. However, how the process takes place at other societal levels is still little analyzed.
In this contribution, we want to empirically discuss the process of far-right normalization in Germany by proposing two very innovative perspectives and applying new methodological approaches. First, we are asking, how the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in Germany is perceived by the population in the course of normalization processes. Interestingly, in a survey in Germany, conducted in March 2024, the majority of the population does not accept the AfD as a normal party and classifies it as racist and extremist. Secondly, we analyze far-right normalization at the local level. We present the results from a qualitative interview study on the perception of organized local democratic civil society groups and politicians about a far-right normalization. Experts are identifying new problems, challenges, and the possible development and impact of civil society counter-strategies against normalization processes. The results show that the analysis of the far-right normalization process at the level of attitudes and local spaces offers deep insights into the complexity and understanding in phases of parallel (dis-)linearity of the multilayered process.
In this contribution, we want to empirically discuss the process of far-right normalization in Germany by proposing two very innovative perspectives and applying new methodological approaches. First, we are asking, how the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in Germany is perceived by the population in the course of normalization processes. Interestingly, in a survey in Germany, conducted in March 2024, the majority of the population does not accept the AfD as a normal party and classifies it as racist and extremist. Secondly, we analyze far-right normalization at the local level. We present the results from a qualitative interview study on the perception of organized local democratic civil society groups and politicians about a far-right normalization. Experts are identifying new problems, challenges, and the possible development and impact of civil society counter-strategies against normalization processes. The results show that the analysis of the far-right normalization process at the level of attitudes and local spaces offers deep insights into the complexity and understanding in phases of parallel (dis-)linearity of the multilayered process.