When loneliness becomes political. Voting for the AfD in the 2025 German federal election

Loneliness has emerged as a defining social phenomenon of our time, yet its political consequences remain insufficiently understood. This article examines how feelings of loneliness shape electoral participation and support for populist radical right (PRR) parties. While existing research suggests that loneliness may foster support for PRR parties by increasing the appeal of narratives centred on exclusion, belonging, and recognition, we argue that loneliness may also contribute to political withdrawal. We further assess whether loneliness conditions the relationship between PRR attitudes and voting behavior. Empirically, we analyze voting behavior in the 2025 German federal election, which was marked by substantial gains for the populist radical right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Using data from the German Longitudinal Election Study (GLES), we investigate both the direct association between loneliness and electoral behavior and potential interactions with populist and nativist attitudes, age, and gender. Our findings provide evidence that loneliness is associated with lower electoral participation. Individuals experiencing higher levels of loneliness are significantly more likely to abstain from voting and are not more likely to support the AfD. Contrary to expectations, we find little evidence that loneliness systematically strengthens the behavioral relevance of populist attitudes, or that its effects differ substantially across age cohorts and gender. Rather than serving as a catalyst for PRR mobilisation, loneliness appears primarily as a factor associated with political disengagement. Overall, these findings contribute to research on loneliness and political behavior by highlighting the demobilizing consequences of social disconnection and by qualifying claims that loneliness constitutes a driver of PRR support.