Closing the Left-Conservative Gap of Political Representation? Ideological Positions and Democratic Attitudes of ‘Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht’ (BSW) Supporters in Germany

Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) is a new political party that has threatened to shake up Germany’s political landscape. With a unique blend of economically left and culturally conservative positions, the BSW appeals to a substantial part of the electorate, especially in eastern Germany. Drawing on original survey data from early 2024 our study examines the ideological positions of BSW supporters. We find that both socio-economic left and socio-cultural conservative orientations increase the likelihood of backing the BSW, with the former being more important than the latter. Additionally, higher levels of dissatisfaction with democracy, political distrust, and populism further bolster the party’s support, which is significantly stronger in eastern Germany. Comparing the ideological proximity of BSW supporters with those of other parties, our study reveals that they are closely aligned with SPD and Die Linke supporters in terms of their socio-economic orientation, with CDU supporters in terms of their socio-cultural attitudes, and with AfD supporters regarding their populist sentiments. These findings underline the BSW’s ambivalent role in the German party system and allow us to conclude by reflecting on likely routes of voter migration, apparent patterns of political competition and possible constellations of cooperation involving the new party.