Testing Democracy: How Alternative for Germany Crafted a Democratic Identity

This book examines the relationship between democracy and extremism through Germany’s political party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), focusing on how its members tested assumptions about democracy and redefined its norms. Through extensive ethnographic research with AfD members, this book reveals three methods they employed: disruption of memory politics, information and narrative control, and provocative performance strategies. Ultimately, it demonstrates how seemingly mundane techniques, like songs, performances, and infographics, can drastically redefine democratic norms and policy. Students, general readers, and scholars across the social sciences will find this book an invaluable resource in understanding the politics of naming democracy and extremism.