| Title |
AfD: can German democracy survive? |
| Authors |
Schlumberger, Oliver ; Švedkauskas, Žilvinas |
| DOI |
10.26881/gsp.2026.2.10 |
| Full Text |
|
| Is Part of |
Gdańskie Studia Prawnicze: Of transformation(s), tension(s) and adaptation(s) too, in law and beyond. Perspectives from supranational and comparative constitutional law and politic.. Gdańsk : Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego. 2026, no. 2(71), p. 101-112.. ISSN 1734-5669. eISSN 1734-5669 |
| Keywords [eng] |
Alternative for Germany (AfD) ; party ban ; constitutional politics ; militant democracy |
| Abstract [eng] |
In response to autocratization facilitated by constitutional reforms in numerous countries around the world, Germany’s 2024 legal reforms strengthened protections for the Federal Constitutional Court against political interference. While these changes reduce the risk of court-packing, they are insufficient to counter the growing threat posed by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). As AfD’s political influence rises, this article examines constitutional mechanisms for banning the party, arguing that both legal pathways and strong supporting evidence for their necessity exist. However, long-term strategies – such as strengthening democratic education and civic constitutionalism – are also necessary. Germany remains more resilient than states like Hungary or the USA, but warning signs of democratic decline are evident. Without proactive measures by the recently elected government, the country’s democratic future is uncertain. |
| Published |
Gdańsk : Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego |
| Type |
Journal article |
| Language |
English |
| Publication date |
2026 |
| CC license |
|
