Systemtransformatives Potenzial im deutschen Parteiensystem: Die rechtspopulistische AfD

Abstract

The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) continues to captivate Comparative Politics: Whereas the party’s right-wing populist nature is known to be widely undisputed, its potential to transform the democratic system remains highly contentious. In addition to analyses that focus on the populist and extremist character of the AfD, this contribution seeks to identify the anti-democratic potential of the party on the basis of Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt’s ‘key indicators of authoritarian behaviour’. The analysis is complemented by a critical examination of Levitsky and Ziblatt’s call for a ‘distancing’ strategy.