As the world grapples with rising far-right movements, we’re seeing the same dangerous pattern play out in different countries: from Trump’s MAGA movement in the U.S. to the rise of the AfD (Alternative for Germany) in Germany. Trump’s chaotic, fear-fueled first month in office set the tone for a strategy of created chaos—one designed to keep people distracted, disoriented, and fearful. This strategy continues today, with figures like Elon Musk exacerbating political divisions through his influence on both U.S. and German politics.
These groups are all leveraging fear—whether it’s fear of migrants, “the other,” or loss of cultural identity—to fuel division and consolidate power. It’s clear that these tactics are deliberately engineered to divide and control the public, distracting us from systemic issues and shifting blame onto vulnerable communities.
Racism and xenophobia are not just personal biases—they are strategic tools used to manipulate entire societies. And the worst part? Marginalized communities are often caught in the crossfire, misled into thinking that aligning with these movements will protect them. But history shows that no one is truly safe from the expanding web of exclusion.
That pattern of pitting groups against each other is nothing new. Colonizers used it to divide and control populations, and today, we see it in dog-whistle politics, culture wars, and economic scapegoating.
The AfD, like other far-right movements, thrives on this strategy. They exploit economic anxieties, stoke fears about migration, and paint marginalized communities as threats, redirecting frustration away from systemic issues. This reinforces power structures and weakens resistance to inequality.
I’ve encountered a few MAGA and AfD supporters, and my being Asian—the stereotypical "model minority"—within certain spaces seems to give them the belief that I’m “passable.” They say things like, “Oh, but it’s only the criminals” or “Not you—just the ones entering illegally” or "Only the refugees from [X country]." Only. Only. Only.
But anyone part of the minority understands that “only” is just lip service to what is in reality “everyone.” The goalposts are arbitrary and ever-shifting. Sooner or later, they expand their definition until it includes all of us. In their eyes, no one is truly “one of them”—acceptance is conditional, temporary, and a lie.
Unfortunately, many within marginalized communities fall into this trap, believing that aligning with these groups can secure their place. But history shows the goalposts always shift, and they too will become outsiders—the next target of exclusion.
Their rhetoric—framed as “defending tradition,” “protecting national identity,” or ensuring “security”—mirrors historical justifications for oppression. The true beneficiaries of these divisions are not citizens, but those seeking power by keeping people afraid and divided.
With elections coming up in Germany, it's a reminder that these divisions shape policy and institutions, not just social norms.
This is why resisting AfD, MAGA, and similar extreme right-wing groups matters—because their strategy depends on making people believe their fears are justified instead of manufactured.
The one good thing about fascism? Counter-fascism.
Resist. Don’t give in to chaos and confusion. Speak up. Stand up. Fight back. Because silence is exactly what they’re counting on.
Learn more, take action: Aufstehen gegen Rassismus: Anti-racism campaign in Germany, find protests and get involved.
Bundeswahlleiter: Check voting information for German elections.
March for Our Lives: Support youth-led activism for gun control and social justice.
Global Justice Project: A group that promotes global democracy, human rights, and economic justice, fighting the causes of extremism worldwide.
Fight Racism, Stand Up: A platform for global anti-racism efforts, with opportunities to take action and support marginalized communities.
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