DDR Therapist Irene Misselwitz: 'The AfD Acts as if it Can Give East Germans Security and Belonging'

In the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is on the cusp of power, a development that threatens to reshape the nation's democracy. The article explores whether this rise is a form of retribution for the events of 1989, drawing on insights from Irene Misselwitz, a neurologist and psychotherapist who experienced the post-reunification era firsthand with her patients.

Misselwitz observes that the AfD is effectively tapping into a deep-seated need for security and belonging among East Germans. She notes the party's strategy of organizing social events like barbecues and moped rides, which resonate with people seeking comfort and community. "The people in East Germany experienced a collapse of the entire social organizational structure back then, and many suffered from loneliness in the new system," Misselwitz explains. "This unsettled people. And the AfD acts as if it can give them security and a sense of belonging. It presents itself as a caring party and offers all sorts of activities. That appeals to people."

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The people in East Germany experienced a collapse of the entire social organizational structure back then, and many of them suffered from loneliness in the new system. This unsettled people. And the AfD acts as if it can give them security and a sense of belonging. It presents itself as a caring party and offers all sorts of activities. That appeals to people.

While the AfD's strength is particularly pronounced in eastern Germany, Misselwitz points out its growing support in the west as well. She attributes this broader appeal to a general human need for security, especially in times of uncertainty. "I believe that people, especially when they are unsettled, fall for such populists," she states. "In East Germany, there was great uncertainty after the fall of the Wall, but it didn't end there. Later came the financial crisis, the climate crisis, the refugees, now the wars. And these crises also affect the West, so it doesn't surprise me at all that the AfD is also gaining strength there. We all depend on a degree of security and belonging."

Reflecting on her professional experience, Misselwitz contrasts the psychological profiles of East Germans before and after reunification. Before 1989, many of her patients were individuals seeking to innovate and change but facing repression, leading them to desire emigration. After reunification, with the ensuing uncertainty, it was those without such ambitious individual plans who were more likely to fall ill, needing a protected environment and a sense of security.

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I believe that people, especially when they are unsettled, fall for such populists. In East Germany, there was great uncertainty after the fall of the Wall, but it didn't end there. Later came the financial crisis, the climate crisis, the refugees, now the wars. And these crises also affect the West, so it doesn't surprise me at all that the AfD is also gaining strength there. We all depend on a degree of security and belonging.