In western Germany, approval of xenophobic statements has increased significantly, bringing it closer to attitudes in the east. In the eastern German 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) at the Federal Press Conference in Berlin under the title "United in Resentment" by Oliver Decker and Elmar Brähler from the Competence Center for Right-Wing Extremism and Democracy Research at Leipzig University.
Since the start of the study series in 2002, approval of xenophobic and chauvinistic statements has fallen in the West, while it has fluctuated in the East. Study director Oliver Decker states: ,, " The social psychologist published Johannes Kiess and Ayline Heller.
In the West, the proportion with a closed xenophobic world view has risen from 12.6 percent (2022) to 19.3 percent. "Xenophobia has thus developed into a nationwide shared resentment," explains co-head Elmar Brähler. 31.1 percent of respondents in the West agreed with the statement that Germany is "over-foreignized by so many foreigners". Two years ago, the figure was 22.7 percent. In the eastern German states, manifest agreement rose from 38.4% to 44.3% in the same period. At 61%, AfD voters in particular have a decidedly xenophobic world view.
Slight trend reversal in anti-Semitic attitudes in western Germany
From 2002 to 2022, anti-Semitic attitudes measured in western Germany fell from 13.8% to 3%. This year, there has been a slight increase in manifest approval of anti-Semitic statements to 4.6%. In the East, the number of manifest anti-Semites will fall from 3% in 2022 to 1.8%. Latent attitudes towards individual statements are higher. For example, only 10.2% of West Germans and 5% of East Germans explicitly agree that Jews "still have too much influence today".
Post-colonial and anti-Zionist anti-Semitism were examined for the first time this year. "Against the backdrop of October 7, 2023, we wanted to record how anti-Semitic attitudes can be expressed in left-wing milieus," explains co-editor Dr. Ayline Heller. 13.2 percent fully agree that "it would be better if the Jews left the Middle East". A further 24 percent also agree latently. "Anti-Semitism functions as a bridging ideology, it connects left-wing 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% of all respondents approve of democracy as an idea (in 2022 it was still 94.3%). However, only 42.3% of respondents still approve of "democracy as it functions in the Federal Republic of Germany". A rapid decline in acceptance can be observed in the East in particular. While 53.5% were still in favor of democracy as it works in Germany in 2022, this year the figure is just 29.7%. In the West, too, only 46% are satisfied with the way the form of government works, compared to 58.8% in 2022. This is also the lowest figure since 2006. For the first time, respondents were able to express disenchantment with parties and politicians and a lack of opportunities for participation.
Anti-modern resentment and the flight into authoritarianism
By devaluing "foreigners", anti-modern resentments provide the opportunity to satisfy authoritarian aggression. In addition to anti-Semitism, this also includes hostility towards Muslims, antiziganism and antifeminism. Antigypsyism and hostility towards Muslims have risen in the West since 2022. In the year of the last survey, only a quarter to a third of West Germans were prepared to disparage Muslims. Today, it is just under half, while the picture in the East has hardly changed. This year, new dimensions such as anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism and trans hostility were examined. The latter in particular is widespread.
Outlook and social challenges
"Although democracy is viewed skeptically, it is unclear whether the desire for authoritarian or extreme right-wing solutions will last longer. There is, however, a tendency to depart from reality," says Oliver Decker. "This development is not limited to East Germany," adds Brähler. "Resentment is now also becoming more open in West Germany."
The method
The Leipzig Authoritarianism Study has been conducted regularly since 2002 and records the population’s attitudes towards authoritarian and anti-democratic tendencies. A representative sample of 2,500 people were surveyed from the end of March to mid-June this year. The interviewers visited them at home. The respondents are given the questionnaire with the political attitude questionnaires, fill it out themselves and then hand it over to the interviewers - in an envelope if desired. This procedure makes it possible to recruit people to take part in the survey in just over half of the households visited.
The complete study as well as photos of the study directors and information graphics can be found in the digital press kit: https://uni-l.de/autoritarismus
Further information, including on the methodology and the new questions in this year’s survey, can be found in the interview with Oliver Decker, head of the study, in the Leipzig University Magazine: https://uni-l.de/autoritarismus-interview
Author: Pia Siemer
