Volksparteien in crisis? The electoral successes of the extreme right in context ‐ the case of Baden‐Württemberg

Abstract

The gains of the far right party, the REPUBLIKANER, in the state elections of Baden‐Württemberg have aroused considerable attention in Germany and abroad. This article tries to explain how long‐term developments of Germany's traditional parties overlap with short‐term influences of voters’ discontent and protest caused by unsolved urgent political problems. In ‘second rank’ elections ‐such as Land elections ‐ this can be shown more clearly than in federal elections because the latter are considered more important by the voters, who do not easily deviate from their normal party alliance.