AFD's populist tendencies and the fragility of liberal democratic values in Germany

This thesis delves into the complex interaction between right-wing populism and the foundational principles of liberal democracy within the context of Germany, set against the backdrop of a global landscape where populist movements and parties have achieved significant traction in recent times. Serving as the study's focal point, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) political party is qualitatively analyzed for its extent of utilization of a populist ideology and thereafter its implications on the liberal democratic values as stipulated in the German constitution, known as the Basic Law. Drawing on Cas Mudde's theoretical framework, which categorizes populism as a 'thin-centered' ideology encompassing nativism, authoritarianism, and populist rhetoric that dichotomizes society, the study predominantly utilizes the AfD's 2017 manifesto, aided by secondary sources of data such as party documents, official statements, election posters, speeches, and public discourse. The research offers an analytical unveiling of the AfD as a populist radical right party fully adhering to Cas Mudde's criteria for populism, nativism, and authoritarianism, which is followed by a detailed analysis on the various contradictions with a number of Articles in the Basic Law and the repercussions the party has had on German liberal democratic ideals. What is particularly striking is that in spite of the sensitivity of German Basic Law to avoid the resurgence of any right wing or totalitarian ideologies and movements, the AfD's operation in a grey area not defined by the rigid definition of the constitution and its strategic employment of a populist ideology have enabled it both survive in the political scene as a legal entity and also actively defy liberal democratic values of the country. Keywords: Populism, Right-wing, Liberal Democracy, Alternative for Germany (AfD), Nativism, Authoritarianism, Basic Law