President of Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso’s Captain Ibrahim Traoré has emerged as one of Africa’s most consequential and controversial figures since seizing power in a 2022 coup. Amidst the mounting insecurity and frustration over the failure of the pro-Western governments, Traore gained public support to topple the government in 2022. Traoré’s rise evokes memories of another revolutionary figure, Thomas Sankara, the legendary “African Che Guevara” who led Burkina Faso from 1983 to 1987 before falling victim to a France-backed assassination. Traoré’s rhetoric, his youthful energy, and his determination to forge a new path for his nation resonate with Sankara’s revolutionary spirit. Like the majority of African nations, Burkina Faso is threatened and exploited by France, the USA, and their Western allies; the country is subject to Islamist insurgencies. But as Sankara tried forty years ago, will he use extreme socialist policies to change Burkina Faso from the inside out, or will he just ...
Founded in 2013, Alternative Für Deutschland (AfD) is a neo-nazi party. It is no longer a far-right populist party; it has invoked Nazi sentiments, with some of its leaders openly glorifying Germany's history in WWII, while the cadres have been caught displaying Nazi symbols and shouting Nazi slogans. Their policies target migrants, LGBTQ+ communities, communists, and other political opponents dismantling the democratic institutions under the guise of nationalism.
With elections around the corner, the possibility of Nazi successors crawling back to power isn’t just a German problem; it’s a global one because the manifesto of AfD could start a chain reaction across Europe and beyond. So, let’s dissect why the AfD is a threat, why Germans (and the world) should be worried, and why anyone voting for them might need a history lesson... or at least a reality check.
1. Make Germany 1933 again —
- The AfD claims that the German culture is under threat by the immigrants, LGBTQ+ folks, and anyone who doesn't fit into their beer-guzzling, schnitzel eating, or lederhosen-wearing fantasy of “real” Germans. They have mentioned in their manifesto about 'negative immigration' (a fancy term for mass deportation of migrants). Election flyers containing "deportation tickets" are being distributed to immigrant households. They're literally trying to normalise the ethnic cleansing rhetoric, because why focus on fixing the economy when you can just blame brown people?
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- AfD is openly anti-Muslim, pushing for mosque bans and hijab restrictions and labelling Islam as a threat to Germany. They're still stuck in mediaeval Europe, trying to bring back crusader-era vibes.
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"Islam doesn't belong to Germany." |
2. "We're not Nazis; we just have Nazi friends." —
- The AfD is not flashing far-right ultra-nationalism anymore; they're actively reviving the Nazi-era tactics. They want history textbooks to de-emphasise Nazi crimes. They think Germany needs to stop feeling guilty and start taking pride in their contribution in WWII. Fascism thrives when it’s normalised. AfD is making racism, xenophobia, and authoritarianism mainstream. Their youth wing has been investigated for far-right extremist ties, and several members have openly praised Nazi ideology.
- The AfD is urging students to report teachers and professors who don’t align with far-right ideologies, pushing for investigations and possible dismissal. Apparently, their idea of free speech is: ‘You can say whatever you want—as long as we approve of it.’ They also openly oppose anti-fascist movements, labelling them 'extremist' or 'far-left', because nothing scares fascists more than being called out for their fascism.
- The AfD MPs met with banned neo-nazi organisations in Switzerland, including "Blood and Honour" and "Junge Tat," and offered them positions in AfD offices in the Bundstag.
- AfD opposes same-sex marriage, gender equality policies, and LGBTQ+ representation in schools and workplaces. This isn’t just a return to conservative values; it’s an attack on human rights.
3. AfD’s Economic Policies and the Opposition to the Euro —
- AfD wants Germany to stop using the Euro. They prefer bringing back the Deutsche Mark or using a different currency. But Germany benefits from a strong European market. AfD also opposes giving money to struggling EU countries. This could weaken Germany's economy and cause the export industry to suffer heavily, eventually leading to the suffering of ordinary German citizens.
"Limit EU Power" /© Getty Images |
- One of their most reckless ideas is withdrawing Germany from the Eurozone, dismantling the currency that holds the European Union’s economy together. AfD's decision to abandon the Euro could cause market crashes, inflation spikes, and economic instability throughout the continent. France, Italy, Spain, and even smaller Eastern European countries that depend on the Euro's stability may experience economic collapse. As a result, the whole world would feel the unstable financial shockwaves.
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- Germany’s economy is built on exporting cars, pharmaceuticals, machinery, and high-tech products, relying on strong trade partnerships with the EU, China, and the US. By turning inward, Germany wouldn’t just isolate itself; it would lose billions in revenue, cripple its industrial sectors, and weaken global supply chains.
- AfD has proposed in their manifesto that Germany cannot be expected to lower its competitiveness to help Greece. While this seems like something a government of a country needs to do for its own economic stability, it's not! This is textbook capitalist hoarding: accumulating wealth by exploiting weaker economies and then refusing to share responsibility for their suffering. If "competitiveness" means maintaining wealth inequality at the expense of weaker nations, then it’s not competitiveness; it’s economic imperialism.
4. AfD's Climate policies —
- Germany is a leader in renewable energy. AfD is openly hostile to climate action. Their manifesto dismisses climate change as "hysteria" and calls for a return to coal, nuclear energy, and fossil fuels. If AfD dismantles its climate policies, other countries may follow suit, weakening global climate agreements. This move would not only cost Germany its position as a leader in green energy innovation but would also have damaging effects on global climate policy.
- Moreover, after Trump, AfD has also stated its intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement if they come to power. If the most influential country pushing for environmental reforms in Europe quits, other nations may follow, undoing decades of progress in the fight against climate change.
Public Opposition and Protests —
- Even the CDU (Christian Democratic Union), which once held a firm “No cooperation with the far right” stance, has been aligning with AfD policies on migration. This betrayal has sparked protests against both parties.
- In recent months, hundreds of thousands have flooded the streets in anti-AfD protests. From Berlin to Munich, from Leipzig to Cologne, citizens are making it clear: "Wir wollen keine Nazis zurück; vielen Danke" (We don’t want Nazis back; thank you very much). The fact that so many people are willing to fight for it is a powerful sign that democracy is not going down without a fight.
- Holocaust survivors and older generations who remember Germany’s past are speaking out, warning of the dangers of far-right normalisation.
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Anti-AfD demonstration in Berlin, Feb 2025 |
Don’t Let the Nazis Win (Again)—
The AfD is dangerous. Period. Their policies are built on fear, division, and an obsession with the past that no one should want to relive. History has shown that ultra-nationalism spreads like wildfire.
For Germany, an AfD-led government would mean weakened democratic institutions, censorship, and erosion of fundamental rights. And once they begin to undermine free speech and judicial independence, it is a slippery slope to dictatorship. Their extreme economic policies would also damage its reputation as Europe’s most stable economy.
Developments in one nation can have far-reaching effects, influencing international relations and economic stability. It is critical for countries around the world, including India, to monitor these changes and analyse their potential effects on global affairs because what happens in Germany will not stay in Germany.
The world is watching; let’s hope Germany remembers the lessons of history.
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