Mainstream Party Strategies Towards the AfD at the Local Level

The far right is now represented in parliaments almost everywhere. Mainstream parties play a key role in the question of what direct and indirect influence it can exert. While more and more studies are addressing party responses, the local level remains understudied. This article asks how and why mainstream parties deal with far-right parties, especially the AfD, at the local level. Theoretically, it argues that the local level is often the starting point for the mainstreaming and normalisation of far-right positions – and thus the breaking of the cordon sanitaire. Empirically, it analyses the responses of mayors in eastern and western German states where the AfD has built up different strongholds. Methodologically, the analysis is based on a variety of data, including focus group discussions with mayors, official party documents, media articles and online communication. The results show that local politics and political culture have changed massively due to the growing presence of far-right actors. They emphasise the key role of mayors in protecting democratic values, but also in communicating with citizens and addressing public grievances. Overall, the article underlines the importance of party responses towards the far right at the local level and offers substantial theoretical and empirical impetus for future research.