#rp26 speaker Sally Lisa Starken: When the right wing rules

Authoritarian forces such as the AfD, the Trump administration, and Meloni's Fratelli d'Italia follow a similar script: they shift boundaries, undermine institutions, and change language, debates, and social norms. And they often do so long before majorities help them achieve democratically legitimized positions. Sally Lisa Starken has researched these dynamics for her latest book „Wenn der Rechte Rand regiert” (When the Right Wing Rules) in various countries. At #rp26, the author and journalist will show what lessons we can learn from this – and how to apply them to the political developments in Germany.

The upcoming regional elections in 2026 are indicators of what we might expect nationwide. Here, the AfD is ahead in the polls, posing an existential test for democracy. But what lies ahead? How is the AfD already infiltrating institutions without us noticing? What causes democracies to collapse, and how can we still save them? In her book “Zu Besuch am rechten Rand. Warum Menschen AfD wählen” (Visiting the Far Right: Why People Vote for the AfD), Sally Lisa Starken already tried to find answers to this question. For this, she spoke with AfD voters from all over Germany and tried to understand why people vote for far-right parties. Between fear and anger, personal life stories came to surface. 

In addition to her work as a journalist, author, content creator, and presenter, Sally Lisa Starken regularly reports on political topics in her news podcast “Die Informantin” (The Informant). Her goal: to retell politics and make it more accessible for everyone.