> "Western social values" are a luxury easily abandoned when you can't afford your rent. Populist fascism is rising because people are increasingly desperate and there's no alternative because the centrists are united with the fascists to crush any leftist momentum.

I think this is the most important and crucial part of what you've said in here.

If you look, East germany former communists states were the biggest voters in favor of the AfD: Saxony and Thuringia. What I understand is that the left wing parties of today's society have forgotten about the 'conservative' socialism that focused on providing good education, food, housing and employment for the general population. Something that was always incorporated on conservative parties, like the CDU in Germany.

Following the disastrous political consequences of Merkel's 2015 immigration crisis, AfD entered the game with the fury from the German population. The alliance of the conservative CDU with the AfD makes a lot of sense.

I may be insane, but I feel there is always some kind of collective Jungian aura or desire among the general population, especially among the elders, for sane, conservative policies to control society and make life bearable. The writings of Jung are quite telling of this phenomenon.[1]

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mass_Psychology_of_Fascism