‘Our neighbours are daring to choose fascism again’: Germany’s election leaves many fearing what lies ahead | Germany
Germany’s Election Leaves Many Fearful of a Far-Right Resurgence – A Deep Dive
“It’s the first time,” stated Cihan Sinanoğlu, a social scientist affiliated with the German Centre for Integration and Migration Research, “that I really feel like a foreigner in my own country.” The sentiment echoes widely among racialized individuals and groups who perceive the ongoing debate about migration as a broader discussion about their place in German society. The discourse often conflates the issues of migration with the very fabric of German identity, questioning who is included and who is excluded, becoming integral to the nation’s political and social landscape.
Many politicians have sidestepped significant challenges facing the country, such as soaring housing prices, the escalating climate crisis, and widening economic disparities, in favor of focusing on immigration. Sinanoğlu criticized this approach, stating, “Nobody wants to talk about structural problems. So all of the bad things in the world are projected onto this figure of the migrant or asylum seeker; rents, economic systems, poverty. That’s crazy.”
The 2025 German election left many reevaluating their sense of belonging and safety in Germany, with a 28-year-old Syrian refugee expressing, “I’m super scared and many of my friends are scared,” corroborating widespread fears of a far-right resurgence. The woman, who arrived in Germany during the 2015 “welcome culture” wave, now fears that many she knows are considering voting for the far-right party AfD (Alternative für Deutschland), known for its neo-Nazi elements. “They are our neighbors, they are parents. And they are daring to again choose fascism.”
Similar sentiments are echoed in Tyron Ricketts’ remarks, a film-maker and storyteller who highlights that the election campaign missed an opportunity to illustrate how Germany’s diversity—from those with migration backgrounds to LGBTQ+ individuals—could be harnessed to address critical challenges like aging infrastructure and an ailing economy. He stated, “Even before the election, the political climate was hijacked by the right-wing party.”
Germany’s eastern states, where approximately one-third of voters supported the far right in the last autumn’s state elections, have witnessed an increase in racial incidents, with individuals reporting verbal abuse, physical assaults, and public spitting. Markus Beeko, a local resident, observed, “You don’t see that there’s enough sensitivity around the fact that this is a debate where everyone should stand up. Like if you’re in a workplace, you want people to say ‘OK, we understand that this is an attack on you as a colleague and we are standing with you.’’’
Beeko’s comments underscore the rising concern over how divisions are being exploited to foment hostility and exclusion. This rhetoric has predictably emboldened the radical right-wing AfD in Germany and has profound implications for the future direction of the country. As we grapple with rising xenophobia and racist hatred, both domestically and internationally, it’s crucial to question how Germany will reconcile these divisions and manage the message that people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized groups are seeing a profound lack of belonging and representation.
There is a larger message here for the home that needs to be told. The rise of far-right populism, not just in Germany, but across Europe and globally, is heavily reliant upon the theme of migration. In the United States, the rhetoric of outsiders and foreigners being dangerous incursions into local communities is prevalent, with candidates all over the predominantly conservative states predicated upon foreigner threats and the costs and dangers of visas and abiding refugees.
To comprehend what’s at stake, it’s important to extrapolate these trends to U.S. soil. According to a 2023 Pew Research Center poll, a third of Americans concur that immigration represents a “critical threat to the U.S.” The consequences of such sentiment have played out in various forms, including the construction of border walls and the crackdown on DACA, a program that allows undocumented children brought to the U.S. by their parents to legally reside and work.
Germany serves as a poignant reminder of the balance between national security and compassion. As seen through this experience, the surge of extremism can fundamentally alter the social fabric, inflicting lasting damage on communities. The fractures and scars from these electoral outcomes can take years to heal.
This raises pivotal questions about how far-right ideologies can be countered and the measures needed to foster a welcoming, inclusive society. It remains imperative for Germany to uphold its principles of social justice and human dignity, ensuring that the narrative of division and animosity does not consume the nation’s identity. The voices of both Sinanoğlu and Ricketts underscore the gravity of this existential challenge, echoing the sentiments echoing across Europe and resonating with communities across the globe.
Recent developments in Germany and their context may shed light on trends in the United States and vice-versa. The divisive election season in Germany has echoes in parts of the United States, with Los Angeles and New York City often witnessing flare-ups in anti-immigration sentiment and racial tensions. Sympathetic stars like former President Donald Trump leveraging these sentiments for political leverage. Rhetoric of Ihre Wikipedia Seite and of immigration control have been seen to frequent mentioning of undocumented immigrants often with xenophobic notions of immigrants taking up jobs Americans in dire need.
The impact goes beyond the headlines. Germany’s Federal Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Ferda Ataman, reported a significant spike in discrimination cases, totaling over 20,000 between 2021 and 2023. This alarming trend has forced a national reckoning with racism and xenophobia, prompting stricter anti-discrimination policies.
The broader global implications cannot be overstated. The takeaway from Germany’s experience, especially for American audiences, is that faltering to address structural inequalities and fostering inclusivity can lead to social fragmentation and the rise of extremist ideologies. By drawing explicit comparisons to our own political climate, domestic audiences can better understand the urgency of proactively addressing these issues and reaffirming collective national values of tolerance and inclusivity. This includes fostering better, kinder discourse to shift perspectives.
The political consequences extend beyond mere social tensions. The focus on immigration has seen a political arms race with Germany’s political landscape. Analyzing comparably populist elements in American politics, the far-right factions have seen previous less polarizing methods give way to the assertiveness of far-right candidates enforcing more rigid policies on immigration and lobby measures that prop up societal divides.
The evidence from Germany strongly suggests that we may be witnessing the same dangers firmly entrenched within disparate local communities across the U.S. Local governments, civic leadership, and policymakers must be vigilant and proactive in addressing root causes before they escalate into full-blown social unrest. Firsthand accounts from those directly impacted, like the Syrian refugee and others, embody a profound sense of dread and fear, signaling the potential backlash from popular sentiment against migrants.
Amidst the political discourse, Germany has been vocal about how economic systems depend on immigrants for labor and providing vital services. The Munich-based Ifo Institute recently published a study concluding that migration does not negatively correlate with crime rates in the country, contrasted to prevalent xenophobic ideologies. Samira, 25, who resides in Berlin and pointed to the significant migrant presence in the city, stated, “Migrants are a big part of Berlin and Germany in general. Without migrants, we wouldn’t have a lot of things that we currently have. I don’t really see why we should push them out.”
The case studies in Berlin and Germany’s eastern regions serve as potent reminders of how social and political movements can either affirm or undermine existing divisions. Samira’s experience echoes those in cities like New York and Los Angeles, where debates on immigration and multiculturalism are never far from the front of public consciousness. The economic dependence on migrant labor, from hospitality to healthcare, harks at the dual economic and inclusive discourse we have domestically versus negative political posturing.
Germany’s mandate since its shift toward openness in 2015 serves as a case study for wider implications of hosting refugees and migrants. The broad political narrative initially buffered fears of increased criminality or economic strain. Now that the narrative has shifted to include far-right dominance in certain regions, there is an ongoing threat to public order and societal cohesion by underplaying the positive economic impacts and unspoken resilience of refugees adapting to new societies. The narrative is now driven by fear of unprecedented incidences as much as by xenophobic policies.
This escalating xenophobia underscores the urgent need for structural reforms and political discourse reflective of the diverse cultural mosaic that characterizes Germany and similar other western societies.