this post was submitted on 23 Apr 2024
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German teenagers and young adults find themselves increasingly unsatisfied and likely to vote for the far right, according to a survey. Fears about prosperity are highlighted as a possible cause.

Young people are more likely to vote for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) than previously, a study on Tuesday showed.

Authors of the "Youth in Germany 2024" study said that under-30s were increasingly disgruntled with their social and economic situation, and that fears about future prosperity were driving a shift to the right.

The AfD's signature issue is a hard-line anti-immigration stance, and the data showed that migration was among young people's main concerns.

The online study, conducted in January and February, found that young people were becoming increasingly dissatisfied, especially with their social and economic situation, compared with previous years.

After the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the authors said economic and political worries for example due to inflation, high rents, the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East or the division of society had taken center stage.

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[–] [email protected] 159 points 6 months ago (6 children)

Young people were especially worried about:

  • inflation (65%),
  • expensive housing (54%),
  • poverty in old age (48%),
  • the division of society (49%)

Aaah yes, that classical list of things that a fiscally right party would solve ...

[–] [email protected] 28 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Absolutely agree, but the reason why they turn to AFD is because they literally have no trust in any of the classical parties. I think it is more of a longing for an underdog or almost a poker move - just bet everything on that (unfortunately rather racist) card because maybe they'd change something. It's already going down the drain if we continue the way we have continued for the past decades, so let's try something very new. Maybe we will have luck in this Russian roulette.

Now, this is stupid af. I would never in my mind consider AFD as an actual option. But for a lot of people it feels like this is the only Fuck You they can give the current government (I am including the CDU/CSU in this definition of "government" too).

Basically all other parties are moderate-middle at this point. They have some small differences but none of them actually fight for the working class, for underprivileged people, and basically all young people know they are or will be underprivileged. Yes we have a left party called Die Linke, but they have been notoriously busy with themselves and a split because a big chunk of the party was circling around Sahra Wagenknecht who was very controversial and shared some far right ideals. Maybe they will get a grip of themselves and become "vote-able" again in the future. But honestly, I'm not sure they are really left either.

When you basically vote for capitalism, either way, just in different shades, it feels like your vote does not matter. Desparte people turn to desperate and stupid measures.

For real, we don't have an actual, valid socialist party. I honestly wonder why. Most young people are so fed up with how things go. Yes we don't want to work anymore. Why should we? To get fired at random when a company goal isn't met? After we studied engineering for 8 years to get minimum wage +1€? To be part of a company that produces the 35th version of a shit emoji cushion, well knowing that we create a bullshit product that just unnecessarily wastes resources? So we can partake in killing the planet? So that we, after we have been fired for no reason, have to fight to collect unemployment for a short period of time, before we are being forced into a bullshit job under threats? So that we work full time until we are 70+ to hardly collect any retirement? When we have kids, we are supposed to not see them but give them to childcare asap to reenter the workforce. For all that bullshit. So I honestly wonder why there isn't a real socialist alternative to the classical parties. I have a very big feeling that a lot of young people would gladly jump over.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

Engineer in Germany earning minimum wage?

[–] [email protected] 20 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

I think that "division of society" may be a euphemism for non-ethnically-homogenous society and friction resulting from that. I've seen similar uses before.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

I am seeing a division of society, and it's due to the likes of AFD + members of CSU & CDU pushing populist bullshit. People that fell for that likely also see a division of society, but they're blaming "wokeism" for it.

I don't think it refers to ethnic homogeny.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago (2 children)

You did leave off the last one, flows of immigration. Still, that's only 1 out of 5.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I don't see the flow as a problem. But if you do see the flow as a problem I can see reasons a right leaning government would be the way you'd vote.

I also see why "cheap brown Labour" is a reason to allow immigration. So that one swings both ways enough I didn't include it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

But if you do see the flow as a problem I can see reasons a right leaning government would be the way you’d vote.

I've actually seen a study that suggested, at least at that time, attitude to immigration was the sole predictor of AfD support. The stuff that factors in on this side of the Atlantic like being old, poor, rural and/or uneducated had no real correlation. It kind of makes me think it's a fundamentally different phenomenon going on over there.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Are German history classes shit? Do they not know what happened the last time a right winger got into power after inflation?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago

The history classes are alright.

The education system is abysmal.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

It's different this time, they don't use swastikas. /s

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

I really don't think these are their actual reasons. I wish they were, but I'm in that backed of people and let me tell you, plain racism is the main reason. The other reasons are just straw man arguments for now as it still is kinda shunned to be openly racist here, for now at least...

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Same thing in Canada.... How did Trudeau manage to affect Germany so much?!?!?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (2 children)

A common sense Conservative government will restore common sense policies to Germany, New Zealand and every other place in the world. And also will bring Tupac back.

- Pierre Poilievre, on being in charge of Canada.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

Everyone knows Tupac is fighting fascists in the jungles of South America, fake news.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

Yes... I love how people say PP will fix housing when he himself is a landlord and rents 2 houses.... When asked about it (mildy because the press wouldn't dare ask a direct question) he actually said he was "helping Canadians by providing house at affordable rent"