Sociologist Steffen Mau believes that the rapid disappearance of the AfD from the German political landscape is unrealistic. Telling the “Handelsblatt”, Mau stated that the idea of returning the party to its previous form is a naive notion. While the AfD might be successfully restrained politically, it is highly unlikely to vanish quickly.
However, Mau did admit that he underestimated the pace of societal polarization. He noted that these political actors are far more successful than he had anticipated, expressing surprise at how quickly the shifts are occurring. He explained that political division is being deliberately intensified by these actors, and this cleavage is increasingly solidifying within society. The AfD is particularly benefiting from the widespread uncertainty and the decline in economic optimism.
Concurrently, Mau perceives the traditional people’s parties as being in a deep crisis. He described them as being weakened, “almost on the verge of shrinking.” He pointed out that the CDU and SPD have lost access to crucial societal groups. Furthermore, the centrist parties are suffering from a content void, making it difficult for them to conceptualize future policy designs.
The AfD exploits this situation very skillfully. Mau labeled the party a “political agitator,” one that capitalizes on social unrest. Despite its ability to generate commotion, however, the party lacks consensus-building programmatic policies on many key issues. The sociologist explained that the AfD “lives off waves of excitement.” Therefore, he concluded that stabilizing democracy permanently requires governments that are capable of taking action.
