US Politician's Strategy to Beat AfD Without Strengthening It

In the run-up to the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, nearly all political parties focused their campaigns on opposing the far-right AfD, inadvertently boosting its appeal. The author argues that warning people against something without offering a positive vision gives them no reason to fight for an alternative. An unnamed American politician, however, has grasped this dynamic and offers a different approach. The article suggests that parties should articulate a compelling narrative of the world they want to build, rather than merely reacting to the AfD. The piece criticizes the BSW for courting the AfD, while other parties failed to explain what they stand for beyond opposing the AfD. The author, Hanna Israel, published this opinion piece in the German newspaper 'der Freitag' following the AfD's electoral success in Saxony-Anhalt.