For my reporting in Berlin, I plan to continue my investigation into the rise of the AfD party.
Thus far, I have been able to interview a number of sources who have discussed the background narrative around the far-right rise across Europe and its relation to issues involving migration. I spoke with one former State Department employee who has been a really great source, and is able to deeply discuss how immigration across Europe has turned citizens towards far-right movements. He talked about Russia’s involvement in the regional wars that cause instability in countries, leading to mass migration and weakening the democracies in surrounding countries. This particular narrative seems extremely relevant, and a topic I hope to make an integral part of my background story.
Another source that I have spoken to here in the German department has been very helpful in explaining some of the causes of this shift right in Germany. This professor has discussed how the effects of the east/west Germany split and reconnection after the wall fell has left lingering effects. He talked about the idea of guilt and shame, and how eastern Germans feel that their views went unheard for so long, and now the AfD party is listening.
My goal in Germany is to find a person who embodies this narrative. I hope to find someone who has moved towards support of the AfD party in the last decade and hear their story. I feel I have enough sources to feel confident about having a complete background narrative by the end of this semester, and finding this source who is actually an AfD supporter will be my bigger challenge. Alternatively, I could also see a story that features a German resident who strongly opposes the AfD party, and sees others close to them move further to the right. In this case, it would be a little more secondary, but I can also see this angle as a way to incorporate more stories about the immigrants coming to Germany and the support this person wants to bring to them.
In order to find some of these sources, I am beginning to reach out to connections my current sources have given me. I know that I will be able to speak to the daughter of one of my sources who is currently studying at the University of Berlin. Also, the German professor said he would be able to send my information to some of his friends living in Berlin, so I am hopeful to get a few more interviews that way. Another option that I am considering is to reach out to school groups at, for instance, the University of Berlin that are in support of the AfD party. As a fellow student, I might be more likely to be able to interview them. Finally, I can see myself meeting everyday residents in Berlin and asking questions that way to understand the perspective on the streets.
Questions for the AfD representative:
- Why do you believe so many Germans are resonating with the values of the AfD?
- Why are immigration policies at the center of your party’s platform?
- What would you tell a prospective refugee to whom you have just denied entry into your country?
