Im talking specifically in the context of Germany. They are as a people deeply ashamed of their past Nazi history, and the genocide of the Jewish people. Ive been there many times, and been to exhibits around Germany, and almost without fail, when Nazi Germany comes up they get very uncomfortable about it.
The fact that they are trying to repeat Nazism now is wild to me considering its become a part of their cultural identity to be ashamed of what their grandparents and great grandparents did.
Most people don’t want Nazis in power again, even ~half of the AfD voters don’t, although some have certainly been radicalized. The AfD is just very successful on social media, because they exploit the dissatisfaction of voters, they are controversial, they don’t present as and are often not perceived as Nazis, and because conservatives helps them with the fear mongering against immigrants. The Cristian democrats try to get the AfD voters back by copying their talking points, not realizing that they make them seem more credible in the process.
Most social media platforms are also happy to promote right wing populists and extremists because they are good for business, and some are owned by extremists in right wing bubbles too, of course. The EU regulations need to be actually enforced, but the US will do anything they can to stop this.
Other parties desperately need better social media strategies. For the last few years, the AfD was basically unopposed in many feeds and the polls are the result of that. Gladly the left party has catched up quite a bit in recent months, but the AfD still has the lead online and other parties struggle to adapt.
Im talking specifically in the context of Germany. They are as a people deeply ashamed of their past Nazi history, and the genocide of the Jewish people. Ive been there many times, and been to exhibits around Germany, and almost without fail, when Nazi Germany comes up they get very uncomfortable about it.
The fact that they are trying to repeat Nazism now is wild to me considering its become a part of their cultural identity to be ashamed of what their grandparents and great grandparents did.
Most people don’t want Nazis in power again, even ~half of the AfD voters don’t, although some have certainly been radicalized. The AfD is just very successful on social media, because they exploit the dissatisfaction of voters, they are controversial, they don’t present as and are often not perceived as Nazis, and because conservatives helps them with the fear mongering against immigrants. The Cristian democrats try to get the AfD voters back by copying their talking points, not realizing that they make them seem more credible in the process.
Most social media platforms are also happy to promote right wing populists and extremists because they are good for business, and some are owned by extremists in right wing bubbles too, of course. The EU regulations need to be actually enforced, but the US will do anything they can to stop this.
Other parties desperately need better social media strategies. For the last few years, the AfD was basically unopposed in many feeds and the polls are the result of that. Gladly the left party has catched up quite a bit in recent months, but the AfD still has the lead online and other parties struggle to adapt.