Germany's AfD: How to understand the rise of the right-wing populists

The Alternative for Germany (AfD), the right wing upstart of German politics, will enter the national parliament for the first time after taking more than 13% of the vote in the 2017 election.

The party is barely five years old and was but a newborn when the last election took place (in 2013). It polled 4.7% then, narrowly missing the 5% vote share needed to gain representation in the federal parliament.

In the four years since, the AfD has transformed itself. It was once led predominantly by professors who were deeply worried about the future of the euro but