In a comprehensive two-year study on the political landscape of Germany, conducted by the "Friedrich Ebert Foundation," an organization associated with the ruling Social Democratic party, concerning findings have come to light. The study reveals that support for democracy is on the decline among the German population, while nationalist, extreme right-wing, and anti-Semitic views have seen a significant resurgence. Moreover, these concerning trends are attributed to a series of crises that have beset German society in recent years, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic fallout from the war in Ukraine, and the ongoing challenges posed by mass immigration.
One of the most troubling findings of the study is that approximately 23.2% of the entire German society, either fully or partially, supports the notion that, under certain conditions, a dictatorship can be the most effective form of government for the national interest. Furthermore, a significant 43.1% of Germans either fully or partially believe that Germany requires a single dominant political party that can represent the entire "community of the people," a term reminiscent of Nazi rhetoric. Additionally, 26.6% of respondents support the idea of a strong leader, referred to as a "Führer" in German, who would govern with an iron fist for the greater good.
Germany bans neo-Nazi group Hammerskins https://t.co/K5LLzzm7XD
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) September 19, 2023
Comparing these statistics to two years ago, it is evident that there has been a substantial shift in public sentiment. The percentage of those fully endorsing dictatorship has risen from a mere 2.2% to 6.8%. The number of individuals in the "gray area" of support for this concept has also increased, from 15.5% to 23.3%. In other words, nearly one-third of the German population now appears to be open to the idea of dictatorship as a viable form of government.
Equally disconcerting is the shift in attitudes towards the Nazi party. Today, 23% of Germans either fully or partially believe that, had it not been for the Holocaust, Adolf Hitler would be regarded as a great statesman. Additionally, 21.9% of respondents either fully or partially believe that the crimes of the Nazis have been exaggerated. Shockingly, 26.9% of Germans express either full or partial belief that Nazism had positive aspects.
Anti-Semitic sentiments are also on the rise in Germany. A substantial 27% of Germans believe that Jews continue to wield excessive influence in society, while 22% either fully or partially subscribe to the notion that Jews employ underhanded tactics more than others to achieve their goals. Furthermore, 20.4% of respondents assert that Jews possess unique characteristics that make them incompatible with German society.
Die Neonazi-Vereinigung "Hammerskins Deutschland" ist verboten worden. Die #Hammerskins gelten als weltweites konspiratives rechtsextremes #Netzwerk. Die heutigen #Razzien in mehreren Bundesländern seien über ein Jahr lang vorbereitet worden. pic.twitter.com/A2g2UQsDMX
— ZDFheute (@ZDFheute) September 19, 2023
Disturbingly, the study reveals a notable increase in individuals with self-claimed anti-Semitic attitudes, rising from 1.7% to 5.7%. Additionally, the percentage of those with partial anti-Semitic views has surged from 10.3% to 15.3%. It is crucial to note that, in Germany, as in other countries, some elements from the political fringes have sought to attribute both COVID-19 and the Ukraine conflict to Jewish influence.
