The 12th Leipzig Authoritarianism Survey in Germany has been released, revealing an increase in xenophobia among respondents nationwide. The study reports that 31.5% of participants expressed xenophobic views. In East Germany, this figure is 33.1%, while in West Germany, it has risen from 12.6% in the previous report to 19.3% this year.
Since 2002, a team of researchers from the University of Leipzig has been conducting this study in collaboration with IG Metall’s Otto Brenner Foundation and the Green Party’s Heinrich Foundation. This week, they presented this year’s results in Berlin, concluding that the overall rise in xenophobia in Germany is primarily attributed to a significant increase in West Germany.
The team’s survey included several questions, one of which asked respondents whether they agreed with the statement, “The Federal Republic is being seriously overexploited by many foreigners.” Study team leader Oliver Decker pointed out a notable shift in attitudes toward foreigners in the West, while Elmar Brahler from the research team observed, “Xenophobia has become a pervasive resentment across the country.”
The study reveals a growing dissatisfaction among Germans with their political system. In East Germany, support for democracy has fallen to 29.7% among those surveyed, down from 53.5% in 2022. Meanwhile, in West Germany, satisfaction with government performance has decreased to 46%, compared to 58.8% in the previous study. Many respondents voiced their discontent with both the government and political parties, citing a lack of opportunities for meaningful political participation.
The study also indicated a rise in hostility towards transgender individuals, particularly in East Germany. Specifically, 46.9% of respondents agreed with the statement, “transgender people should stop making such a fuss about their sexuality,” while 26.3% concurred with a less severe remark. The research team noted that anti-transgender sentiments are more widespread in West Germany, whereas women in East Germany tend to have a more progressive outlook compared to their counterparts in the West.
This year, the study focused on monitoring anti-Semitic trends within the left, particularly in the aftermath of the Gaza conflict. The survey revealed that 13.5% of respondents fully agreed with the statement, “Israel was created only so that Europeans would not feel a bad conscience,” while 28.4% partially agreed. The study team interpreted these results as indicative of anti-Semitism, particularly regarding the questioning of Israel’s legitimacy. Johannes Kiss, a participant in the study, emphasized that anti-Semitism “is a bridge ideology, linking the left and right centers.”
According to the study, the spread of far-right ideas in Germany remains relatively rare, despite a rise in xenophobia, racism, and anti-Semitism. Notably, far-right views are declining dramatically in East Germany.
