Anti-Foreigner Attitudes Surge In Germany

From The New York Times and Alliance Defense Fund:

Anti-Foreigner Attitudes Surge in GermanyBy JUDY DEMPSEY


Published: October 13, 2010

. BERLIN — Negative attitudes toward foreigners living in Germany have increased so much during 2010 that a third of Germans say they want foreigners repatriated, and 10 percent of Germans would prefer to have a “führer” (a derogatory word only used in reference to Hitler) take charge, according to a new report by published Wednesday.



The report, on the rise of right-wing extremism, was prepared by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, a research organization affiliated with the opposition Social Democratic Party. Its publication coincides with a emotionally charged debate about immigration and the integration of the seven million foreigners living in Germany.



With leading politicians singling out Turks and Arabs — even suggesting, as the Bavarian premier, Horst Seehofer, did last week that they would be better off returning to their countries of origin — public attitudes about foreigners are swinging increasingly toward intolerance and racism, according to the report.



A prevailing view by the 2,411 respondents was that “Germany, because of the many foreigners living here, is exposed to foreign influence to a dangerous extent,” the report said.



The foundation, which carried out a similar report seven years ago, pointed out that this time such views were no longer confined to far-right wing groups or their sympathizers but that they have entered the mainstream.



“They cut across all social groups, all age brackets, regardless of employment state or education and among both sexes,” the report said. To that extent, the report’s authors wrote, “we have found in 2010 a rise in clearly anti-democratic and racist attitudes.” Support for a democratically elected government, however, is still overwhelmingly strong with over 75 percent of respondents endorsing it.



Gero Neugebauer, a political scientist at the Free University in Berlin, said politicians were pandering to populist and racist sentiments instead of speaking out against them. “They think they can win votes,” he said. “It is as if speaking out against foreigners is now acceptable.”



The Muslim community was particularly singled out by respondents. Over 55 percent of respondents said Arabs were not pleasant people, compared with 44 percent in the foundation’s 2003 report. As to whether Muslims should face restrictions in practicing their religion, 58 percent agreed. It was 75 percent in the Eastern Germany. The question was not posed in the 2003 study.



Over 30 percent said foreigners who settled in Germany did so to exploit the generous welfare system or take jobs. The same number said foreigners should be sent to their countries of origin. Such views are common during a recession. But the German economy is booming, unemployment is falling and there is even a labor shortage.



The poll was conducted in April. The respondents, who were interviewed in their homes, were aged 14 to 90. No margin of sampling error was given.