The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party's success in the recent federal elections has raised questions about the factors contributing to the rise of the far right in the country. While many experts point to the role of immigration, new research suggests that the AfD's biggest wins were in the former East Germany, where demographic decline and economic stagnation have created fertile ground for the party. The regions that have experienced out-migration and population aging are more likely to support the far right, as they feel abandoned by mainstream political parties. This trend has the potential to play out in other developed countries as well.