Racism in Germany widespread, but more subtle than before

Racism and discrimination are pervasive in Germany. Xenophobic and derogatory views remain rampant. To coincide with the International Day Against Racism, new studies have been presented.

First, the good news: According to a recent survey, racism and discrimination in Germany are on a slight decline compared to studies from previous years. But that's where the reassuring findings end. This is because xenophobic and derogatory views remain rampant.

From October 2025 through January of this year, approximately 8,200 people in Germany between the ages of 18 and 74 were surveyed about their views on racism and discrimination. The survey was commissioned by the German Center for Integration and Migration Research (Dezim for short).

The result: A quarter of those surveyed stated that they believe in the existence of racial differences, a notion that has long been refuted by science. Furthermore, nearly half of all respondents believe that certain groups are inherently more hardworking than others.

One of the co-authors of the study is Tae Jun Kim, who has a doctorate in sociology and works at the National Discrimination and Racism Monitor. He has noticed for some time that racist views are expressed less directly in society than in the past. "Modern racism is often just a more polite way of justifying existing hierarchies and subordination among groups," he said.

Read more on the original article : https://amp.dw.com/en/racism-in-germany-widespread-but-more-subtle-than-before/a-76461895