Antisemitism and Xenophobia in Germany since Unification

Abstract Various phenomena may be analyzed in order to ascertain the extent and significance of antisemitism in society: public opinion; the attitude of the intellectual elite; treatment by the media; antiminority activities; government treatment of Jews and antisemites in politics, the courts, and education; the ideology and activities of right-wing organizations, and the like. The results vary according to the chosen subject of the analysis. I shall concentrate on public attitudes toward Jews and foreigners on the one hand and on open, sometimes violent acts of antisemitism and xenophobia on the other; I shall also examine the connections between the two. Antisemitism and xenophobia will be treated separately. Although they correlate highly with each other, I believe they vary in terms of motives, prevalence, and public acceptance.