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In western Germany, support for xenophobic statements has risen significantly and is now approaching attitudes in the east. In the country’s eastern states, satisfaction with democracy as it is practised in Germany is at its lowest level since 2006. These are the key findings of the Leipzig Authoritarianism Study 2024, which was presented today (13 November) in Berlin under the title “United in Resentment” by Professor Oliver Decker and Professor Elmar Brähler from the Competence Centre for Right-Wing Extremism and Democracy Research at Leipzig University. The study was conducted in cooperation with the Heinrich Böll Foundation and the Otto Brenner Foundation.
Since the series of surveys began in 2002, support for xenophobic and chauvinistic statements had been declining in western states, while it fluctuated in eastern Germany. Study leader Professor Oliver Decker states: “This year’s survey shows a clear shift in sentiment, particularly in western Germany.” The social psychologist published the study together with Professor Elmar Brähler, Dr Johannes Kiess and Dr Ayline Heller.
In western German states, the proportion of people with a consistently xenophobic world view has risen from 12.6 per cent in 2022 to 19.3 per cent. “Xenophobia has therefore become a nationally shared resentment,” says co-leader Elmar Brähler. Some 31.1 per cent of respondents in the western federal states agreed with the statement that Germany is being “swamped with foreigners”. Two years ago, that figure was 22.7 per cent. In the eastern German federal states, manifest support for the same statement rose from 38.4 to 44.3 per cent over the same period. At 61 per cent, AfD voters in particular have a consistently xenophobic world view.
Slight trend reversal in anti-Semitic attitudes in western Germany
Between 2002 and 2022, anti-Semitic attitudes measured in western Germany fell from 13.8 per cent to 3 per cent. This year, there was a slight increase in manifest approval of anti-Semitic statements to 4.6 per cent. In eastern Germany, the number of manifest anti-Semites fell from 3 per cent in 2022 to 1.8 per cent. Latent attitudes to individual statements were higher. Only 10.2 per cent of western Germans and 5 per cent of eastern Germans explicitly agreed that Jews “still have too much influence today”.
For the first time, this year’s survey also looked at post-colonial and anti-Zionist anti-Semitism. “Against the backdrop of 7 October 2023, we wanted to record how anti-Semitic attitudes can be expressed in left-wing milieus,” says co-editor Dr Ayline Heller. In this respect, 13.2 per cent fully agreed that it would be better “if the Jews left the Middle East”. Latent approval was found in a further 24 per cent. “Anti-Semitism acts as a bridging ideology, linking left and right-wing milieus,” says co-editor Dr Johannes Kiess.
Decline in satisfaction with democracy
Satisfaction with democracy in Germany is declining. Although 90.4 per cent of all respondents approved of democracy as an idea (down from 94.3 per cent in 2022), only 42.3 per cent approved of “the way democracy works in the Federal Republic of Germany”. Especially in eastern federal states, a rapid decline in acceptance was observed. Whereas in 2022 53.5 per cent were in favour of the way democracy works in Germany, this year the figure is only 29.7 per cent. But even in western Germany, only 46 per cent are still satisfied with the way the form of government is working, compared to 58.8 per cent in 2022. This is also the lowest level since 2006. For the first time this year, survey respondents were able to share their thoughts on democracy in free text boxes. The most common themes here were disillusionment with parties and politicians and a lack of opportunities for people to get involved.
Anti-modern resentment and turning to authoritarianism
By disparaging “those who are foreign”, anti-modern resentments provide an opportunity to satisfy authoritarian aggression. In addition to anti-Semitism, these include hostility towards Muslims, antiziganism and anti-feminism. Antiziganism and hostility towards Muslims have risen in western federal states since 2022. In the year of the last survey, only a quarter to a third of western Germans were prepared to disparage Muslims. Today, that figure is just under half, while the picture in eastern Germany has barely changed. This year, the survey analysed new dimensions including anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism and hostility towards trans people. The latter is particularly widespread.
Outlook and social challenges
The study shows that many people feel uncertain about the future. “Although democracy is viewed sceptically, it is unclear whether the desire for authoritarian or extreme-right solutions will last for much longer. However, there is a tendency for people to leave reality behind,” says Professor Oliver Decker. “This development is not limited to eastern Germany,” adds Brähler. “Resentment is now becoming more open in western Germany too.”
About the method
The Leipzig Authoritarianism Survey has been conducted regularly since 2002 and measures the attitudes of the population towards authoritarian and anti-democratic tendencies. A representative sample of 2,500 people in eastern and western Germany was surveyed. Interviewers visited them at home. Respondents received a questionnaire on political attitudes, which they completed themselves before handing it over to the interviewer – in an envelope if they wished. This approach made it possible to recruit people to take part in the survey in just over half of the households contacted.
Author: Pia Siemer / Translation: Matthew Rockey
Prof. Dr. Oliver Decker
Phone: +49 341 9715441
Email: oliver.decker@uni-leipzig.de
Web: http://www.kredo.uni-leipzig.de
https://uni-l.de/autoritarismus You can find the complete study here (plus photos and infographics).
https://uni-l.de/autoritarismus-interview Further information, including on the methodology and the new questions in this year’s survey, can be found in an interview with study leader Oliver Decker in the Leipzig University magazine.
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