### The rise of new nationalism in Germany: a reflection on the attraction of extreme ideals in youth
While Suhl takes shape in the greyness of a rainy evening, the Björn Höcke phenomenon attracts youth in search of identity and ideals. He is not only a controversial politician, he is a symbol of a deep socio -political change in progress in Germany. The question transcends the simple facts: what reveals this admiration for Höcke and the alternative for Germany (AFD) on contemporary German society?
### The historical and sociological context
The trajectory of AFD, from the marginal party to a major national player, finds its roots in decades of socio-economic and cultural upheavals. Post-one Germany is a fertile field for nationalist movements, exacerbated by economic, migratory crises and rapid social changes. The younger generations, more than ever, seek answers to existential questions about their identity and their place in a changing world.
The results of the European elections of the previous year show that 18 % of young people aged 16 to 34 voted for AFD, a spectacular increase which marks a turning point in the dynamics of the vote. Unlike their predecessors, these young people seem more inclined to adopt nationalist positions that dispute the established order and reject the idea of a united and diversified Europe.
### The phenomenon of political idols
The appeal of figures like Höcke can be partly understood through the prism of the quest for authenticity. Many young people feel disillusioned by traditional political speeches. They are looking for leaders who speak frankly, without detour, even if it includes a language loaded with dark stories and painful references. This search for an “honest” voice becomes a kind of refuge in front of a world deemed complex and confusing.
Populist movements, around the world, have often found their roots in this same quest for authenticity. Figures like Donald Trump or Jair Bolsonaro also embody this phenomenon, capitalizing on the feeling of distrust of the elites. The AFD leader, by formulating speeches that resonate with a certain nostalgia, manages to reach sensitive strings within German youth.
#### The emergence of extremes: a distorting mirror
AFD’s rise in power is not an epiphenomenon, but starts from a real paradigm change. Studies show that far -right parties throughout Europe, although often vilified, feed on an increasing disaffection for traditional democratic institutions. With the growing polarization of society, radical movement, often designated as extreme, find fertile terrain in general distrust towards the system.
Anti-immigration discourse is the “catalyst” which makes it possible to gather voices beyond simple political ideologies. In the case of AFD, the story that “migration is the mother of all problems” becomes a mantra, serving as an easy scapegoat for frustrations that could be attributed to deeper socio-economic causes.
### The limits of political recovery
It is crucial to emphasize that the rise of the AFD should not be interpreted as a simple revolt against the status quo. Rather, it raises fundamental questions about the values, culture and the future of a nation. Young people who acclaim figures like Höcke are not always motivated by innocent membership with extreme ideals; For many, this is a desperate response to a system perceived as excluding.
Recent research indicates that German youth is taken between two fires: on the one hand, a desire for conservatism and tradition, on the other, an aspiration for an inclusive and diverse future. This tightness underlines a generational fracture that the political class must urgently address.
#### Prospects for the future
The example of Höcke and AFD serves as a mirror for a wider reality that requires being examined. What solutions will emerge to offer a credible alternative to this youth in search of meaning? Traditional parties must redouble their efforts to restore a dialogue with young people while confronting increasing populism.
The results of the next election will be crucial. They will determine not only the future of AFD, but also the political orientation of Germany as a whole. A sensible political response could also become an antidote to extremism. Faced with the attraction of nostalgia for a troubled past, the construction of a united and inclusive future could well be the real challenge of this century.
Thus, the ascent of figures like Höcke not only reveals a political crisis, but also an identity crisis, and raises the question of what it means to be German in the modern era. At the crossroads, German youth must choose between the spectrum of a bygone past and the Icarus of a future founder of new identities.