Study presented: Large majority perceives racism

Only a small minority doubts that racism exists in Germany. However, there is no consensus as to where it begins, according to the newly established National Racism Monitor.

Around 90 percent of Germans believe that there is racism in this country. This emerges from the initial study for a new “racism monitor”. As the survey by the German Center for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM) shows, 45 percent of people have already observed racist incidents.

More than a fifth of the population (about 22 percent) say they have been affected by racism themselves. Young people reported more direct experiences of racism than older people.

Racism is defined in the study as an ideology as well as a discursive and social practice in which people are divided into different groups based on external characteristics, to which generalized, unchanging characteristics are ascribed by “ancestry”.

Paus: “We’re on the right track”

“The vast majority in Germany recognizes that there is racism in Germany,” said Federal Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens) when the study was presented. People are also willing to take action against it. “We are on a good way.” Paus announced that he intends to do more to promote commitment against racism and referred to the planned Democracy Promotion Act.

“Germany knows about its racism problem,” said the federal government’s racism commissioner, Reem Alabali-Radovan. The realization of 90 percent of people is “good news, because it is an important step for change”.

Majority sees racism in everyday life

According to the study, 65 percent believe that there is racial discrimination in public authorities. 61 percent took the view that racism existed in everyday life.

Around 70 percent of those surveyed are therefore ready to counter racism – for example at a demonstration or a signature campaign or with contradiction in everyday life.

However, 45 percent of those surveyed said that criticism of racism was exaggerated and represented a restriction of freedom of expression in the sense of “political correctness”. Some who complained about racism were “overly sensitive”, said 33 percent, the study continues. 52 percent even took the view that those affected were too “anxious”.

Around 5000 people interviewed

Racism is apparently not a minority problem in Germany. Only 35 percent of those surveyed said they had never come into contact with racism, said the director of the German Center for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM), Frank Kalter. “There is a lot of awareness,” added co-director Naika Foroutan.

In 2020, the Bundestag decided on nationwide discrimination and racism monitoring, which DeZIM was commissioned with. For the initial study, scientists interviewed around 5,000 people from April to August 2021. In the future, there will be a management report every two years.