Anti-Semitism Up, Islamophobia Down

February 1, 2010

by: Sarah Stricker, Ynetnews.com

The annual study, “German Conditions,” seeks to learn about “group-focused enmity” such as xenophobia [fear or hatred of anything strange or foreign], sexism, racism, anti-Semitism, and prejudices against unemployed, disabled, homeless, or homosexual people in Germany. Due to the financial crisis, and fears about the future, poverty and unemployment that are being stoked by that [crisis], the researchers expected a rise this year. However, the level of resentment against most minorities declined—sexism and racism even considerably, Islamophobia slightly. There were only two exceptions: homophobia and anti-Semitism.

Beate Küpper

Beate Küpper, one of the study’s main researchers, believes that the financial crisis may, in fact, be a possible explanation for that. Küpper said that although in comparison to other European countries, Germany was on average, it was staggering that in the light of German history, 48% still agreed with anti-Semitic statements.

Anti-Semitism is also still widely spread in Europe. The team of scientists from the universities of Amsterdam, Bielefeld, Budapest, Grenoble, Lisbon, Marburg, Oxford, Padua, Paris, and Warsaw found that 41.2% of Europeans believe that “Jews try to take advantage of having been victims during the Nazi era.” The highest degree of affirmation was in Poland—72%, and the lowest in the Netherlands—5.6%. 

One-quarter of Europeans (24.5%) believe that “Jews have too much influence,” and nearly one-third (31%) agree that “Jews, in general, do not care about anything or anyone but their own kind.” On the other hand, 61.9% say that Jews “enrich our culture,” especially in the Netherlands, Britain, and Germany.

Excerpts of an article by Sarah Stricker, Ynetnews.com