Securitization of Migration: Rising of Radical Right Wing Party 'AfD' in Germany and Syrian Refugee Crisis

Hosting the largest number of refugees in Europe, Germany has witnessed the strongest reactions against immigration. This study examines how the AfD, with the change of its party manifesto and leadership, has manipulated the Syrian Refugee Crisis by using refugees as a political instrument post 2015. By constructing refugees as a security threat and provoking negative feelings in people against Muslims and refugees, the AfD has gained success both in Federal and State Parliaments, becoming the first radical right wing party to enter Federal Parliament after World War II. The main argument of this study is to show that the rise of Syrian refugee migration in Germany is used as a securitization instrument through AfD’s party manifesto, leaders’ discourse and election posters. As a result, the AfD achieved the spread of anti-immigration and Islamophobic sentiments in society. Furthermore, considering that migration as a result of Syrian civil war has intensified, AfD has redirected its party’s mission. Party identity and focus turned from Neoliberalism to anti-immigration and nationalism with the leadership change in AfD in 2015. After this process, by using refugees as an instrument of propaganda, AfD has reached 25% in state parliament elections. In this study, AfD’s securitization factors on immigration issues and the effects on the party’s success in both the social and political realm between 2015 and 2017 will be analysed