Women and Alternative für Deutschland (AfD)

Katherine Williams is an independent scholar. She completed her PhD at Cardiff University.

“Women in the AfD is a thoughtful, reflective study that brings out some fascinating insights which complicate our understanding of the role of gender in support for the far right. By always centring power, Katherine Williams's book is a breath of fresh air in research on far-right activists.”Aurelien Mondon, Professor of Politics, University of Bath"Why do educated, professional women join an overtly anti-feminist and often more subtly misogynistic party such as the radical right-wing populist 'Alternative for Germany' (AfD)? Why can they (sometimes) thrive in this organisation? And how do they square their own political views with the party line?Katherine Williams decided to let eight female AfD members answer these questions in their own words. The result is intriguing, if perhaps somewhat scary: these women remain active in a party that has come under observation by the intelligence agencies for its possibly extremist positions to further their own political agendas, and because it makes sense from their personal point of view. Fascinating reading for anyone who wants to understand the motivations of female far-right activists."Kai Arzheimer, Professor of Politics, University of Mainz

• Introduction 1. Towards a feminist understanding of women in the AfD 2. Genderwahn! The family, performative allyship, and gender politics 3. The gendered frontlines of the ‘existential’ battle against Islam 4. Agency, extremism, and women’s tolerance of violence 5. Gender, affect, and the East German ‘experience’ Conclusion