German Politics and Society

Since the mid-1990s, immigrant-origin (io) politicians have been represented in the Bundestag, and their number and share among national parliamentarians have continuously risen. In the aftermath of the 2013 election, a detailed view on representational patterns of this new group of national politicians was presented in this journal. Three electoral terms later, several of these patterns are revisited in this article. Are there specific electoral modes and contexts for the election of io mps? Does party ideology matter with respect to the personal characteristics of io parliamentarians? What are the specifics of their parliamentary careers and termination? The analysis identifies several patterns found earlier, but also documents a higher number of long-serving politicians and hardly detects any io discriminatory patterns. It appears that parties are selectively open to the specific origins, and a relative advantage for woman mps is a finding that points to variance in the career patterns within the group of io parliamentarians.

Germany has been governed by coalitions since 1949, and how they are built has developed into a differentiated process over the past decades. Bringing the cdu, csu, and spd together after the Bundestag election of 2025 followed the established routines, which led to a new government under the leadership of Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Analyzing the process and structure, the use of policy expertise, the integration, and the legitimation, as well as the public performance, it becomes clear how this informal but routinized process helps to move from campaigning to governing in a competitive multi-party system. Whether it actually results in a functioning government that is able to address challenges and solve problems remains to be seen. New forms of coalition building and government coordination may be needed in the future.

The growing convergence between the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the far-right Vorfeld reflects a broader strategy of ideological radicalization through cultural influence. Positioned as an intellectual and strategic vanguard, the Vorfeld promotes metapolitical agendas rooted in a right-wing reinterpretation of Gramscian thought. Central concepts such as the “great replacement” and “remigration” have been popularized by Vorfeld actors and increasingly adopted by the AfD. This alignment has shifted the party's discourse on migration and national identity, reinforcing exclusionary definitions of citizenship and belonging. The role of digital platforms, youth outreach, and alternative media infrastructures further illustrates the deliberate mainstreaming of far-right narratives within German political culture. While the AfD and Vorfeld maintain distinct roles, their alignment has contributed to the radicalization of the AfD.

This article examines the Alternative for Germany's (AfD) position following the 2025 federal election, considering whether the party is entering a stage of decline, sustaining its previous support, or moving toward greater ascendancy. The analysis assesses changes in voter demographics, regional dynamics, and issue salience to identify patterns of continuity or transformation in the party's base. We also define potential future issues, including continued dissatisfaction with the previous Ampel coalition and the grand coalition that replaced it, backlash against the end of the debt brake, and the perceived weakness of Friedrich Merz as a leader. In light of recent efforts to classify the AfD as an extremist party, the article evaluates how the party's evolving strategy and public perception may influence its capacity to shape party competition and national policymaking. Finally, it explores whether the AfD's post-2025 trajectory signals a tipping point in the normalization of far-right politics in Germany or a plateau in its influence, with broader implications for democratic stability in advanced democracies.

In all likelihood, Germany's 2025 federal election has driven a final nail in the coffin of a party system marked by two traditional catch-all parties and several small parties. The fdp, Greens, AfD, Left Party, and bsw together received a record vote share. However, not all of them were electoral winners. Led by the AfD, smaller opposition parties on the ideological extremes surged, while hinge parties in government lost ground. A clear pole position offered an edge in a polarized and fragmented field. This article examines pre-election developments, manifestos, candidates, results, and outlooks of five parties that have emerged as key players in a party system that shows signs of polarized pluralism.

Olaf Scholz's declaration of an “epochal turnaround” following Russia's invasion of Ukraine testifies to a paradigm shift in German strategic culture. The 2025 elections confirmed voters’ willingness to embrace a “new responsibility” for global security initiated by Ursula von der Leyen. Despite gains by the Putin-friendly Alternative for Germany, the party most opposed to supporting Ukraine (the Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht) failed to enter the Bundestag. Exploring the linkage between “strategic culture” and “generational change,” this study reviews party platforms addressing Ukrainian aid and defense spending. It then offers survey data attesting to shifting public attitudes before and after the election, partly in response to Trump's threats to abandon Ukraine and weaken the u.s. security umbrella. The conclusion highlights demographic dilemmas complicating Germany's efforts to operationalize its “new responsibility” in an unstable security environment.