Wieso verstehen wir nicht, wenn Leute die AfD wählen?

Episode overview

The episode reacts to the AfD’s strong performance in Saxony-Anhalt—framing it as a widespread wave of shock, anger, fear, and resignation. It argues that resignation should not become a reason to stop thinking critically.

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Core argument: “left bubble” misreads AfD voters

The speaker claims it’s unhelpful (and possibly self-flattering) when people respond to AfD support by saying they “can’t understand” how anyone could vote for the party. In her view, this often reflects insulation in an urban, educated, economically secure “bubble,” while overlooking how stressful and financially/politically burdensome life can feel for others.

Critique of activist/online “emotional comfort”

She criticizes activist and online behavior she sees as “emotional comfort” for the bubble, such as:

• symbolic gestures (e.g., vigils or picnics)
• “check-ins” after election results

These actions may feel good, she argues, but they do not solve underlying problems.

How left responses can reinforce the right’s “enemy image”

She also argues that many left responses inadvertently confirm the right’s narrative of the left as an urban/academic crowd focused mainly on its own feelings and self-expression.

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“Not about racism alone, but about protest and emotional solutions”

The speaker explicitly does not excuse racism. However, she distinguishes protest motivations from racist ideology.

She emphasizes that support for the AfD can be driven by a desire for emotionally satisfying explanations and solutions to real, lived frustrations. That means some voters may be seeking:

• recognition
• belonging more than they are seeking specific policy outcomes.

She also argues that many AfD promises are, in her view, not feasible under the legal/constitutional constraints of state government—suggesting the vote is tied less to what the AfD can implement and more to the feeling the vote provides.

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Main analysis: money, class, and “feeling left behind”

A large part of the episode focuses on economics, class, and perceived inequality.

Perceived financial strain as a driver

It references exit-poll style figures reported as:

• 65% of those who describe their financial situation as bad voted for the AfD.

The speaker argues that self-perceived poverty—i.e., “feeling left behind”—can matter more than measurable income, because behavior is shaped by whether people feel they still participate in society.

Experienced inequality, not only objective inequality

She criticizes narratives that focus only on objective inequality and ignore how inequality is experienced.

Lower middle class vs. upper middle class

She extends the class analysis, especially to the “lower middle class” and “upper middle class”:

• Lower middle class: may feel pressured by costs and policy details (e.g., minimum wage or tax allowances).
• Upper middle class: may feel that “nothing gets better,” even if they still earn above minimum wage—particularly when costs of life (housing, social security, and cities) rise. She suggests this group can feel overworked and ignored by the state.

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Media and communication critique: symbolic “virtual signaling” vs real participation

She questions whether public anti-AfD messaging by well-resourced figures truly changes outcomes, or whether it mainly comforts their audience and reinforces their moral status.

She argues that:

• “self-care” and online catharsis can be politically insufficient if it replaces material change and deeper debate.

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Political strategy prescription: pragmatism and real-world debates

She proposes a more pragmatic approach:

• Instead of asking only “does it feel good?”, ask “does it help society?”

Avoid purity tests; focus on harm reduction and trust

She recommends leaving aside insistence on perfection or identity purity, and instead choosing parties that treat people “the least badly” while maintaining trust. She also calls for activism beyond self-comfort.

Structural diagnosis: the right keeps voting AfD

Her central point is structural: if people on the right keep voting for the AfD, liberals/leftists need a way to address underlying causes without relying mainly on symbolic gestures.

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Additional pro-democracy framing

She invokes Max Weber, describing politics as a slow, tedious drilling through hard issues.

The episode concludes that protest voting can be understandable, but the long-term answer should involve re-engaging with mainstream democratic institutions rather than only escalating opposition.

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Presenters / contributors

• Podcast host/speaker (name not provided in subtitles)
• Kim (mentioned as formerly co-sharing the studio; no further role)
• Mareike Kaiser (journalist referenced for an Instagram data analysis)
• Felix (mentioned as someone who previously discussed understanding AfD voters on “Gemischtes Hack”)
• Jens Spahn (referenced in an example)
• Max Weber (quoted/mentioned)