Opinion poll
Many Germans are dissatisfied with the functioning of democracy – especially in the East
Particularly in East Germany, respondents say that they feel left behind. This could be reflected in the autumn elections
© Paul Zinken / DPA
Democracy: Yes, but not like that. In the new Germany Monitor, many respondents are critical of how democracy is structured in this country. Attitudes towards the welfare state have also changed.
A large part of the German population is with the Democracy dissatisfied. As can be seen from the so-called Germany Monitor published on Monday, more than half of the people in East Germany (56 percent) and around four out of ten respondents in the West are dissatisfied with the functioning of democracy. In principle, the idea of democracy is supported by almost all respondents – 97 percent.
The Germany Monitor annually examines people’s attitudes towards politics and society and is created by scientists from the Center for Social Research in Halle, the University of Jena and the Leibniz Institute for Social Sciences in Mannheim. In 2023, around 4,000 people were surveyed in June, July and October.
People in East Germany tend to feel left behind
When it comes to assessing the quality of life, there is hardly any difference between people in East and West or people living in the countryside and those in the city. However, at 19 percent, East Germans feel left behind twice as often as people in West Germany at eight percent. In addition, East Germans often have the impression that politicians are not sufficiently interested in their region and are not committed enough to its economic development.
The East-West differences are partly due to objective factors. The feeling of being left behind is particularly widespread in those East German and structurally weak areas that are more affected by aging and emigration. “This feeling should be taken seriously, because those who see themselves or their region as ‘left behind’ tend to have populist attitudes and are less satisfied with the functioning of democracy,” explained Jena political scientist Marion Reiser.
Germans support welfare state
According to the study, there is a broad nationwide consensus regarding the central role of the welfare state. 66 percent of West Germans and 78 percent of East Germans expect the state to be responsible for absorbing or cushioning general life risks. Citizens almost unanimously see the state as having a duty to ensure social security and affordable housing.
The call for government regulation has become louder over the past decade. This concerns care in the event of illness, old age and unemployment, the promotion of economic growth and the reduction of income differences, as well as wage and price controls and a job guarantee for everyone willing to work. According to the study, West Germans are closer to East Germans on these points.