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Public Opinion and Violence Against Foreigners in the Reunified Germany

1994; De Gruyter; Volume: 23; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1515/zfsoz-1994-0303

2366-0325

Thomas Ohlemacher,

Abstract The reunified Germany has faced an increasing incidence of violence against foreigners. The study presented here focuses on the interrelationship between public opinion (measured in opinion polls) and the number of violent attacks (counted by the German Federal Police). The empirical analysis detects a positive correlation between the two factors. This correlation was to be expected in theoretical terms. Violent events, widely covered by the media, are important for both data sets. Xenophobic riots like Hoyerswerda and Rostock support critical comments and an increase in violence, whereas the murders of Mölln support a decrease in both. Specific forms and quantities of violence seem to enable people to communicate a critical opinion towards foreigners and thereby stimulate renewed violence. However, “too much” violence builds up a new latency of communication, which decreases violence once more.