60% of Germans Say They Are Proud, as AfD Claims 35% of Patriotism Association
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jun 26
60% of Germans Say They Are Proud, as AfD Claims 35% of Patriotism Association
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jun 26
Summary
60% of Germans surveyed this month said they were very or somewhat proud to be German, yet only 30% said they owned a national flag as the World Cup revived debate over public patriotism.
35% linked expressions of pride in Germany most closely with the far-right AfD, more than twice any other party, underscoring how the party’s use of black-red-gold symbols has made flag-waving politically fraught.
Postwar Germany long treated overt nationalism as taboo, and although the 2006 World Cup normalized more casual flag display, left-leaning politicians still say AfD supporters have tainted the symbol.
Joshua Kimmich said the tournament could promote a more inclusive 'positive patriotism,' arguing Germany’s diverse national team offers an alternative to the far right’s version of national pride.