Repaired pledge for elevation falls short of expectations.

## Rising Discontent and the AfD: A Closer Look at Germany's East

Germany's eastern regions, particularly Saxony-Anhalt, have been witnessing a growing sense of economic and social discontent among its middle-aged population. This discontent is rooted in a perceived broken promise of upward mobility, persistent regional inequality, and disillusionment with mainstream political parties.

### Economic and Social Disparities

The post-reunification era has seen persistent economic disparities between the former East and West. Despite substantial investment, eastern regions have yet to catch up to western levels of prosperity in terms of wages, job opportunities, and public infrastructure. This has created a feeling of being left behind, especially among those who grew up during or after reunification, who expected better prospects.

The promise of upward mobility, central to post-war and post-reunification narratives, has been undermined by factors such as automation, globalization, and a shift towards service-based economies. Middle-aged workers, particularly those in traditional industries, have faced job insecurity, stagnant wages, and limited opportunities for advancement.

### Political and Cultural Factors

Germany's traditional "Volksparteien" (major mainstream parties) have lost significant support, particularly in the east. Voters feel increasingly disconnected from established politicians who are seen as out of touch with ordinary people's concerns. This erosion of trust has made space for the rise of the AfD, which positions itself as the voice of the “forgotten” and “left behind.”

Cultural anxieties, especially regarding migration and rapid demographic changes, play a significant role. The AfD has capitalized on fears about loss of national and regional identity, particularly in smaller towns and rural areas of the east, where communities are more homogenous and less accustomed to multiculturalism.

### Recent Political Developments

The AfD's strong performance in the 2025 federal election—winning nearly a third of the vote in eastern states and overtaking the SPD in some western regions—reflects a broader rejection of the status quo. Many voters view the party as a protest vehicle against the perceived failures of established parties to address economic insecurity, social change, and loss of community.

The AfD has become increasingly radicalized, with its rhetoric targeting immigrants, the EU, and perceived cultural elites. This radicalization has led to classification by German intelligence as a right-wing extremist threat, yet the party continues to attract those who feel economically and culturally marginalized.

### A Closer Look at the Factors

| Factor | Impact on Voters | Eastern Germany Relevance | |-------------------------------|----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| | Economic inequality | Sense of being left behind | Persistent post-reunification gaps | | Limited upward mobility | Frustration with lack of opportunity | Job insecurity in traditional sectors| | Disillusionment with parties | Loss of trust in establishment | Stronger than in western regions | | Cultural anxiety | Fear of loss of identity | More homogenous, less multicultural | | AfD’s radicalization | Attracts protest and marginalized votes| Exploits all the above factors |

In summary, middle-aged and eastern German voters feel the promise of upward mobility has not been fulfilled due to persistent economic gaps, limited opportunities, cultural anxieties, and disillusionment with mainstream politics—factors the AfD has successfully leveraged to expand its support.

Recent statistics show that the AfD is being voted for more by men in middle age. The perceived fear is that children won't find jobs. The broken promise of upward mobility is a common sentiment across the political spectrum, with the fear that children will have a worse life due to climate change and its economic and biological consequences also being a common sentiment.

The wochenour, a left-wing weekly newspaper, reported that real wages, adjusted for inflation, have only just reached their pre-COVID-19 level of 2019. There is a sentiment online that immigrants must be kicked out due to the Greens being blamed for inflation, with the CDU seeming to echo this sentiment. Social democrats are promising to renew their historical mission with the fight against the right, promising upward mobility. The eastern regions have benefited the most since the 2000s.

The perceived broken promise of upward mobility, a central theme in post-war and post-reunification narratives, has been challenged by factors such as climate-change, automation, globalization, and a shift towards service-based economies.
Economic and social discontent among middle-aged Germans, particularly in the eastern regions, is rooted in persisting regional inequality and stagnant wages in job opportunities, even after substantial investment.
The feeling of being left behind has been exacerbated by the housing-market, environmental-science, and policy-and-legislation, as eastern regions have yet to reach western levels of prosperity in terms of public infrastructure, wages, and job opportunities.
The AfD, positioning itself as the voice of the “forgotten” and “left behind,” has capitalized on this sentiment, attracting middle-aged voters who are economically and culturally marginalized.
Political parties, including the SPD and CDU, have lost significant support, particularly in the east, owing to voter disillusionment and lack of trust in established politicians.
General-news about crime-and-justice, accidents, and fires in the region have contributed to the growing sense of insecurity and anxiety among the middle-aged population.
In an effort to address economic insecurity, personal-finance and debt-management have become important concerns for many middle-aged Germans, seeking better savings strategies and financial stability.
Education-and-self-development, career-development, and skills-training are increasingly viewed as key factors in upward mobility, with many looking to invest in their personal growth and professional development.
The real-estate market, investments, wealth-management, and personal-finance are closely interconnected, with many struggling to navigate the complex world of finance and investment to secure their financial future.
Fears about job-search and political instability, combined with the consequences of climate-change, have led to concerns about children's future job prospects in the region.
War-and-conflicts, both domestic and international, have further fueled the sense of uncertainty and instability, causing many to reevaluate their financial priorities and migration patterns.
Migration, ethnic diversity, and cultural change are contentious issues in the eastern regions, where more homogenous communities are less accustomed to multiculturalism, contributing to the rise in extremist ideologies and political polarization.
In summary, the wochenour’s report that real wages, adjusted for inflation, have only just reached their pre-COVID-19 level, highlights the ongoing struggle for economic mobility and financial stability in Germany's eastern regions.