The German history according to the views of the Alternative for Germany party

Abstract

The «Alternative for Germany» (AfD) is the most successful right-wing populist party in Germany. The party is the largest opposition force in the Bundestag and continues to increase success on regional level. The AfD proclaims protection of culture and identity of the Germans and promotes its own view on the history of the country. The article analyzes the position of the AfD on the most difficult events of the 20 th century for the modern Germans (the National Socialism period and the history of the GDR). The analysis is based on program documents and speeches of the party leaders. The AfD leaders raise difficult questions, bringing historical discussions back to the national level. The article concludes that the point of view of the AfD on a number of historical events ideologically coincides with the views of the group of «conservatives» that participated in the «Dispute of historians» in Germany in the late 1980 s. The group advocated for the «normalization» of the German national identity and emphasized the positive aspects of the country's past. In addition, it is emphasized that the interpretation of the German history by the AfD is determined both by the party’s right-wing ideology and its instrumental populist goals.