Researchers to Analyse Anti-Democratic Attitudes

Minister of Democracy Katja Meier with Rector Beate Schücking. Photo: Swen Reichhold - Minister for Democracy Katja Meier said: "The Else Frenkel-Brunswik Institute will compile studies on anti-democratic attitudes and supplement them with its own research and research assignments on Saxony and individual regions in Saxony. Crucially, the Institute will evaluate the knowledge gained and actively make it available to the various sponsors and institutions in a way that is easy to understand. I am convinced that in this way we are supporting those committed to democracy in Saxony.' The Else Frenkel-Brunswik Institute will be established as an independent yet administratively linked research unit within Leipzig University's interdisciplinary Leipzig Research Centre Global Dynamics. Leipzig University Rector Beate Schücking said: "We welcome the decision taken by the Saxon State Ministry of Justice, for Democracy, Europe and Equality to set up the Else Frenkel-Brunswik Institute, and we are pleased that the Institute will be established at our university. We offer the project an excellent environment with our well-known expertise in democracy research and the investigation of anti-democratic movements. To name but a few, this includes the Leipzig Authoritarianism Studies, which are respected throughout Germany and even internationally; the renowned Competence Centre for Right-Wing Extremism and Democracy Research; the broad-based Institute of Political Science; and the Centre for Journalism and Democracy founded last year.' The Else Frenkel-Brunswik Institute is headed by the nationally renowned social researcher Oliver Decker, who is responsible for the Leipzig Authoritarianism Studies.