WITH GREETINGS FROM MOSCOW THE ADOPTION OF RUSSIAN PROPA-GANDA NARRATIVES IN THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION OF GERMANY’S BÜNDNIS SAHRA WAGENKNECHT

Abstract

This study investigates what the German newcomer party Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) publicly communicates concerning the war in Ukraine and to what extent this communication aligns with Russian propaganda. The analysis is guided by propaganda theory, emphasizing consistent, persuasive narratives aimed at shaping public attitudes. By applying the method of thematic content analysis, the study compares BSW leader Sahra Wagenknecht’s public communication with six Russian propaganda narratives extrapolated from existing literature. The analysis covers talk show appearances, debates, and speeches between the party’s founding in January 2024 and its first federal election in February 2025. The findings reveal that especially policy positions concerning peace negotiations and independence from the United States (US) closely align with Russian narratives. Additionally, the BSW utilizes four Russian propaganda narratives more directly in other communicative con-texts than justifying its policy positions. The thesis concludes that the BSW fully aligns with Russian propaganda narratives, raising concerns about the role of Western democratic parties in the domestic amplification of foreign authoritarian propaganda.