Unveiling a Shift in Attitudes: Less "Subtle Anti-Semitism" in Germany
Today, people in Germany exhibit significantly fewer negative sentiments towards Jews compared to 20 years ago. According to research conducted by the Forsa Institute for Stern magazine, the proportion of individuals harboring "subtle anti-Semitic views" has reduced dramatically, from 23% in 2003 to just 7% in 2023. However, there's a concerning discrepancy; supporters of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party show twice as much negativity towards Jews as backers of other parties.
The Forsa Institute repeated a survey that was originally conducted in 1998 and 2003. This time, they surveyed German-speaking citizens, aged 14 and over, during 2018, with approximately 1,000 participants in both East and West Germany. Following a similar format as in the previous surveys, the research involved participants responding to eight specific questions designed to detect anti-Jewish attitudes. In every category, agreement with these negative sentiments saw a decrease.
Hangovers from History
For example, the statement "Many Jews continue attempting to exploit the Nazi past and demand Germans pay for it" garnered support from 24% of respondents in 2023 – a considerable reduction from the 38% who agreed in 2003. The belief that "Jews possess too much influence in the world" was now endorsed by 14% of respondents, as opposed to 28% in 1998 and 2003. The assertion "Due to their behavior, Jews shouldn't be deemed entirely free of accountability for the persecution they endured" now has 9% agreement, compared to 19% in 2003.
The notion "Jews possess something unique and out of the ordinary and, as a result, find it difficult to mix well with us" earned 7% approval in 2023, versus 17% in 2003. The trend held true for the rest of the questions. The figure of 7% denotes "subtle anti-Semitic views" represents other recent surveys, such as the Leipzig Authoritarianism Study from 2022.
AfD supporters present a concerning picture
Supporters of the AfD present a different scene, as their attitudes towards Judaism and the Jewish community are generally more negative. Half of the supporters of the AfD agreed with the statement that Jews are still benefiting from the Nazi era, while only 24% of the overall respondents agreed. Twenty-six percent of AfD supporters believed that Jews wield too much influence in the world, compared to the average of 14% of all respondents. Seventeen percent of AfD supporters maintained that Jews were peculiar, displaying more negative attitudes than the overall average.
Although respondents themselves expressed fewer negative feelings in 2023 compared to 2003, they considered the overall sentiment towards Jews in the country to be more negative. Fifty-three percent believed that attitudes towards Jews had grown more negative in recent years – a significant increase from the 30% who felt the same way in 2003. Respondents also reported that they suspected the presence of negative sentiments towards Jews in their own circles of acquaintances more frequently than they did 20 years previously.
Concerns about the "core" of anti-Semitism
Many Jews have recently expressed fear and concern for their safety in Germany, as the frequency of reported anti-Semitic incidents has risen dramatically since the attack on Israel by the terrorist organization Hamas on October 7. According to the Research and Information Center on Anti-Semitism (RIAS), the average number of anti-Semitic incidents in Germany has reached 29 incidents per day since then.
Berlin's anti-Semitism commissioner, Samuel Salzborn, shared his concerns with Stern magazine regarding the figures: "The hardcore anti-Semites have become more radical, more violent, and potentially more aggressive. The majority of the German population must actively oppose anti-Semitism, lest those who become more aggressive shape public debates even further."
