Prejudice against Jews widespread in several European countries
07 December 2009
Anti-Semitism and homophobia are on the rise in Europe, according to the annual study conducted by the University of Bielefeld’s Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on Conflict and Violence. For the first time, the study included attitudes in other European countries. According to the findings fear of Islam and hatred of Muslims has dropped slightly since 2008 in Europe, and general xenophobia, sexism and racism have declined as well. Overall, Germans are currently no more xenophobic now than in 2002, when the first study was done.
However, prejudice against Jews and homosexuals is on the increase in Europe. 41 percent of Europeans overall, and 72 percent of Poles, agreed with the anti-Semitic stereotype that Jews try to use the Holocaust for their own benefit. Nearly one-quarter of all Europeans agreed with the statement that “Jews have too much influence.” Almost a third of respondents agreed that “Jews in general do not care about anything or anyone but their own kind."
The international team of researchers found that French and Dutch respondents were the least xenophobic, while Poles and Hungarians had the highest levels of hatred toward Jews, Muslims, foreigners and homosexuals.
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