Task 11

Since the onset of the so called “refugee crisis” leading politicians in Germany, and particularly chancellor Angela Merkel, have strongly advocated a welcoming policy. Growing dissatisfaction in parts of the population with this immigration policy has inspired the formation of PEGIDA and the AFD some of whose members have articulated xenophobic views. The openly expressed nationalistic beliefs have ab initio estranged politicians from other parties. However, given Germany’s history and the public distaste for such extreme remarks, politicians and the media quickly dismissed their chances of surviving as political forces. They portrayed PEGIDA and the AFD inferior, their positions as inhuman, and most of all unpopular. Yet, as demonstrated by the recent Landtag elections, the AFD is well on the way on becoming one of the major parties. This development makes it abundantly clear that the AFD and organizations like PEGIDA cannot merely be ignored into non-existence but instead have to be taken seriously.