Study from Germany: Nearly half of the respondents believe that "true democracy" will only be possible "when capitalism no longer exists."
Only 42 percent of all citizens see their vision of democracy reflected in the political system practiced in Germany. This is one of the findings of the "Leipzig Authoritarianism Study 2024," titled United in Resentment, presented on November 13. The satisfaction rate with the functionality of democracy, a metric tracked since 2006, has reached an all-time low and, for the first time since 2010, has dropped below 50 percent.
According to the study, many citizens are dissatisfied not only with the government but also with politicians and political parties. Politicians are most frequently accused of "greed, arrogance, and incompetence," as well as of "failing to represent the population's interests."
In eastern Germany, only 29.7 percent of citizens approve of "democracy as it functions in the Federal Republic of Germany." This figure had previously risen steadily from 27.2 percent in 2006 to a peak of 53.5 percent in 2022. However, the current drop of 23.8 percentage points marks an unprecedented decline.
According to the study, only 73 percent of the population considers democracy in Germany to be "legitimate." While 95 percent of respondents in eastern Germany support the "idea of democracy" in principle, the figure is slightly lower in the west at 89 percent. "People in eastern Germany seem to view the implementation of democracy, as defined in the Basic Law, as inferior," the study authors write.
Data shows that eastern Germans feel far more powerless in relation to politics than their western counterparts. A belief in political ineffectiveness is also more widespread in the east. Over 63 percent of the population nationwide considers political engagement futile, a sentiment unchanged since 2006. However, in 2018, only 56.1 percent of western Germans shared this view, compared to the current 61.7 percent. In eastern Germany, skepticism about political engagement has consistently been higher, with at least 65 percent expressing doubt. In the latest survey, this figure reached 71.8 percent.
Eastern Germans also report feeling increasingly powerless in the workplace. Only 28.8 percent believe they can "make positive changes" at work, down from 55 percent in 2020. Nearly half of respondents believe "true democracy" will only be possible "when capitalism no longer exists." Over 60 percent think globalization benefits "only powerful economic interests," which the study's authors interpret as a growing "anti-American sentiment."
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