Feeling disadvantage: Why the AfD is growing in East Germany

Feeling disadvantage: Why the AfD is growing in East Germany

The importance of subjective perception for the political trend in Germany

In the current political landscape of Germany, a striking trend can be observed: the increase in the popularity of parties such as the alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Alliance for Social Justice (BSW). A current investigation by the IFO economic research institute has dealt with the causes of this development. One of the central findings is that the support for the AfD in East Germany is less conditional due to objectively measurable economic difficulties, but rather by a perceived disadvantage of the voters: inside.

The knowledge of the IFO indicates that many voters: inside in the new federal states do not primarily choose the AfD from a feeling of economic hardship. Rather, the subjective interpretation of its situation plays a crucial role. It turns out that a feeling of injustice and the disadvantage acts as a driving force behind the election results. The thought that you are neglected and others benefit illegally is a central point for many AfD supporters: inside.

This raises important questions about social perception. While the efforts of social justice and the improvement of living conditions are in many places, political awareness seems to have overlap the subjective perceptions. The ifo finds that the deselection of traditional parties such as the CDU and SPD does not result from a lack of material resources, but from a deeply rooted insight that your own needs and demands are not adequately recognized. This feeling has profound social implications, since it not only influences the political landscape, but also changes the social structure in the affected regions.

In order to better understand the trend of the AfD, it is important to analyze the emotional and social factors that are often underlying. According to research, an "offended legal awareness", according to research, seems to play a central role. The AfD uses these feelings and promises to eliminate the supposed injustices by using certain groups, such as: B. Migrant: Propagated as a scapegoat. However, this strategy has no sustainable positive impact on the economic situation of its followers: inside, but increases the feeling of solidarity among them.

In the discussion about the reasons for the rise of the AfD, society should learn that the subjective impression is often more complex than objective statistics. This requires a rethink in political communication and a deeper examination of the concerns and fears of the citizens: inside. Only through a better understanding of these dynamics will it be possible to formulate adequate political answers that respond to the real needs of the population.