An Ethnography of the Supporters of the Party Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) in East Germany
Philipp Baum
In his doctoral research, Philipp Baum analyses the political biographies and political understanding of supporters of the party "Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht" (BSW). The still very young party achieved very good results in the state elections in Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg, most recently 13.5% in Brandenburg. The BSW fills a gap in the German party landscape. The party appeals to voters who demand a strong welfare state but otherwise conservative policies. Wagenknecht and some of her party colleagues call this line "left-wing conservatism". Currently (September 2024), however, the demand for "peace with Russia" is at the centre of the debates surrounding the BSW. While for many voters it is the decisive factor in their decision to vote, Wagenknecht is accused by many political opponents of spreading Russian propaganda and representing Russian interests.
An ethnographic study of BSW supporter groups will analyze the reasons why people become active for the BSW. Initial studies indicate that many members and supporters of the party were not previously politically active. Why has the time now come for them to become politically active beyond their decision to vote? In addition, the biographical events and personal turning points that led them to decide in favor of the BSW and not one of the established parties will be investigated. Among other things, the question of what role the experience of inequality between East and West Germany could play in this context will be addressed.
The BSW is establishing itself in the German party landscape within a development that is often understood as "polarization". Political camps seem to be increasingly irreconcilable towards each other; the understanding that other people have a different political stance to one's own seems to be diminishing. As a result of this development, there is a danger that dialogue across political camps will take place less and less frequently and that political opponents will be perceived in an increasingly undifferentiated way. In order to counteract this development, a differentiated ethnography of BSW supporters will scrutinize stereotypical ideas about the party.
Duration
2024-2027
Funding
Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology Halle as part of the International Max Planck Research School “Global Multiplicity - A Social Anthropology for the Now” (IMPRS-GM)
Supervisor
Prof. Dr. Olaf Zenker