Attitudes Toward Jews in
Seven European Countries
February 2009
Prepared by:
First International Resources, LLC
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158 www.adl.org
2
Table of Contents
Methodology
3
Anti-Semitism in Europe
4
Global Financial Crisis
16
Trends in Anti-Semitic Attitudes -Country by Country Results
17
3
Methodology
¾ First International Resources was commissioned by the AntiDefamation League to research attitudes and opinions toward
Jews, the Middle East and the global financial crisis in seven
European countries.
¾ Our research focused on the attitudes of the general public in
Austria, France, Hungary, Poland, Germany, Spain and the
United Kingdom.
¾ Data results for each individual country were weighted based
on age and gender. The completed interview data underwent
minor weighting to national population data using official
government information on age and gender.
¾ In addition to the individual country results, we have compiled
overall statistics which take into account the findings from the
seven countries surveyed as a whole. These figures are
combined results from our surveys, with each country’s
findings being weighted equally as one-seventh of the whole.
¾ Fieldwork was done by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS), which
conducted a total of 3,500 telephone interviews -- 500 in each of
the seven countries -- among the general public between
December 1, 2008 – January 13, 2009.
¾ Interviews were conducted in the native language of each of the
countries and were completed by TNS.
¾ The margin of error for each country is +/- 4 at 95% level of
confidence.
4
Anti-Semitism in Europe
As with previous surveys, data from this latest 2009 European
tracking poll indicates that significant percentages of European
respondents continue to believe in some of the most pernicious
anti-Semitic stereotypes.
Respondents across the continent were asked whether or not they
thought the following four statements were “probably true” or
“probably false.”
1) Jews are more loyal to Israel than to this country.
2) Jews have too much power in the business world.
3) Jews have too much power in international financial
markets.
4) Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in
the Holocaust.
Respondents were also asked:
™ Whether they agree or disagree with the statement that
“Jews are responsible for the death of Christ.”
Finally, respondents were asked if their opinion of Jews was
influenced by actions taken by the State of Israel and whether they
believed the violence directed against European Jews was a result
of anti-Jewish feelings or anti-Israel sentiment.
5
(1) Jews are more loyal to Israel than to this country.
Percent responding “probably true”
80%
63%
60%
64%
53%
47%
40%
38%
40%
37%
20%
0%
Austria
France
Germany
Hungary
Poland
Spain
United
Kingdom
¾ The data indicate that Europeans continue to question the
loyalty of their Jewish citizens.
¾ Overall, nearly half of those surveyed in the seven countries, 49
percent, believe that Jews are more loyal to Israel than to their
own country.
¾ A majority of respondents in Germany, Poland and Spain
believe that this statement is “probably true.”
6
(2) Jews have too much power in the business world.
Percent responding “probably true”
80%
67%
60%
40%
55%
36%
56%
33%
21%
20%
15%
0%
Austria
France
Germany
Hungary
Poland
Spain
United
Kingdom
¾ High levels of those surveyed across Europe continue to
believe in the traditional anti-Jewish canard that “Jews have too
much power in the business world.”
¾ Overall, 40 percent of all respondents believe this stereotype to
be true.
¾ More than half of Hungarian, Spanish and Polish respondents
believe that “Jews have too much power in the business
world.”
7
(3) Jews have too much power in international financial markets.
Percent responding “probably true”
80%
74%
59%
60%
40%
54%
37%
27%
22%
20%
15%
0%
Austria
France
Germany
Hungary
Poland
Spain
United
Kingdom
¾ Similarly, respondents in the seven countries still adhere to the
notion that “Jews have too much power in international
financial markets.”
¾ Overall, 41 percent of those surveyed cling to the traditional
stereotype that Jews exert too much influence over
international financial markets.
¾ Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed in Spain believe the
above statement to be “probably true.”
8
(4) Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the
Holocaust.
Percent responding “probably true”
80%
60%
56%
55%
55%
45%
40%
42%
33%
20%
20%
0%
Austria
France
Germany
Hungary
Poland
Spain
United
Kingdom
¾ Large percentages of respondents across Europe believe that
Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the
Holocaust.
¾ Overall, 44 percent of those surveyed believe it is “probably
true” that Jews still talk too much about the Holocaust.
9
The following chart illustrates the percentage of those surveyed
in each country who answered “probably true” to at least 3 of
the following traditional anti-Semitic stereotypes:
1) Jews are more loyal to Israel than to this country.
2) Jews have too much power in the business world.
3) Jews have too much power in international financial
markets.
4) Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in
the Holocaust
80%
60%
47%
48%
48%
40%
30%
20%
20%
20%
10%
0%
Austria
France
Germany
Hungary
Poland
Spain
United
Kingdom
¾ Overall, nearly one-third of those surveyed, 32 percent, believe
that at least three of the above statements are “probably true,”
while 15 percent believe that all four are “probably true.”
¾ In fact, 28 percent of Polish respondents, 20 percent of Spanish
respondents, 18 percent of Hungarian respondents and 17
percent of French respondents believe that all four of the above
statements are “probably true.”
10
¾ Moreover, the data indicate that age, education and income
level are key factors in determining the likelihood of a
respondent believing in the traditional anti-Semitic stereotypes
tested.
¾ Those over the age of 65, those who did not continue their
education beyond the age of 17 and those earning less than
€11,000 are more likely than the rest of the population to agree
with at least three of the four anti-Semitic characterizations
presented in the survey.
¾ The following table illustrates this trend in the seven countries
surveyed.
Percentage responding “probably true” to at least three of the four anti-Semitic
stereotypes tested
30%
45%
Austria
Overall
Population
50%
38%
20%
30%
France
34%
32%
Age 65+
20%
32%
30%
26%
Germany
47%
53%
Hungary
Did not
continue
education
beyond 17
65%
50%
48%
56%
Poland
68%
55%
Earn less than
€11,000
48%
59%
54%
55%
Spain
10%
United Kingdom
0%
22%
15%
18%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
11
(5) The Jews are responsible for the death of Christ.
Percent responding “strongly agree” + “somewhat agree”
60%
48%
40%
33%
21%
20%
19%
17%
15%
11%
0%
Austria
France
Germany
Hungary
Poland
Spain
United
Kingdom
¾ A significant percentage of those surveyed continue to blame
Jews for the death of Christ.
¾ Overall, 23 percent agree with the statement that “Jews are
responsible for the death of Christ.”
¾ Nearly half of Polish respondents, 48 percent, agree with this
statement -- the highest percentage of all the countries
surveyed.
12
(6a) Is your opinion of Jews influenced by actions taken by the
State of Israel?
Percent responding “yes”
40%
36%
28%
25%
23%
20%
20%
15%
12%
0%
Austria
France
Germany
Hungary
Poland
Spain
United
Kingdom
¾ Overall, 23 percent of those surveyed say that their opinion of
Jews is influenced by the actions taken by the State of Israel.
13
Respondents who answered “yes” in the previous question
were then asked the following:
(6b) Is your opinion of Jews better or worse?
Percent responding “worse”
80%
74%
66%
60%
57%
60%
47%
47%
47%
40%
20%
0%
Austria
France
Germany
Hungary
Poland
Spain
United
Kingdom
¾ Overall, of those respondents whose opinions are influenced,
58 percent say that their opinion of Jews is worse as a result of
the actions taken by Israel.
¾ Respondents in Spain (74 percent) and the United Kingdom (66
percent) are most likely to view Jews more negatively as a
result of actions taken by the State of Israel.
14
(7)
In your opinion, is the violence directed against Jews in
(insert individual country name) a result of anti-Jewish
feelings or a result of anti-Israel sentiment?
60%
48%
48%
39%
40%
39%
38%
37%
30%
25%
22%
20%
0%
26%
25%
17%
Austria
France
Germany
Anti-Israel Sentiment
Hungary
26%
17%
Poland
Spain
United
Kingdom
Anti-Jewish Feelings
¾ Overall, 38 percent of those surveyed believe that the violence
directed against Jews is a result of anti-Jewish feelings, while
24 percent believe it is a result of anti-Israel sentiment.
¾ Hungarian and Polish respondents are most likely to believe
that anti-Jewish sentiment is the reason behind the violence
directed against Jews in their two countries.
¾ Spain is the only country in which more respondents cited antiIsrael sentiment as opposed to anti-Jewish feelings as the main
cause of the violence directed against Jews.
15
8)
Do you think your government is doing enough to ensure
the safety and security of its Jewish citizens?
80%
71%
68%
60%
60%
54%
51%
52%
46%
40%
27%
26%
21%
20%
16%
23%
18%
12%
0%
Austria
France
Germany
Yes
Hungary
Poland
Spain
United
Kingdom
No
¾ Overall, 57 percent of respondents believe that their
government is doing enough to ensure the safety and security
of its Jewish citizens.
¾ Austrian and German respondents are most likely to think that
their government is providing enough protection for its Jewish
citizens.
¾ More than a quarter of respondents in Hungary and Poland do
not believe that their respective government is doing enough to
ensure the safety of its Jewish citizenry.
16
Global Financial Crisis
¾
Despite the complexities of the current global economic
environment, survey data indicate that Jews receive a disturbing
amount of blame for the financial crisis.
¾
Overall, 31 percent of respondents across Europe blame Jews in
the financial industry either “a great deal,” “a good amount” or “a
little” for the current global economic crisis.
How much blame do you place on Jews in the financial industry for the current global
economic crisis? Do you blame them a great deal, a good amount, a little or not at all?
Percent responding “a great deal,” “a good amount” or “a little”
60%
46%
43%
38%
40%
30%
25%
20%
16%
15%
0%
Austria
France
Germany
Hungary
Poland
Spain
United
Kingdom
17
Trends in Anti-Semitic Attitudes -Country by Country Results
In 2007, the Anti-Defamation League conducted similar surveys of attitudes
toward Jews in each of these seven countries. The following section
compares results from the 2007 survey with results from the recently
completed 2009 tracking survey.
¾ A comparison with the 2007 survey indicates that over the past two
years levels of anti-Semitism have remained steady in six of the
seven countries tested.
¾ The United Kingdom was the only country in which there was a
marked decline in the percentage of respondents who believe that at
least three of the four anti-Semitic stereotypes are “probably true.”
¾ The percentage of those believing that “Jews have too much power
in the business world” has increased by 7 percent in Hungary, 6
percent in Poland and 5 percent in France.
¾ Since 2007, there has been a 6 point increase in the percentage of
Spanish respondents who believe that “Jews have too much power
in international financial markets.” In fact, nearly three-quarters of
Spanish respondents now believe this stereotype to be “probably
true.”
¾ As in 2007, respondents continue to regard “anti-Jewish feelings” as
the main cause of the violence directed against Europe’s Jews as
opposed to “anti-Israel sentiment.”
18
Austria
Percent responding “probably true” to
each statement
47%
Jews are more loyal to
Israel than to this country
54%
2009
36%
Jews have too much
power in the business
world
2007
37%
37%
Jews have too much
power in international
financial markets
43%
55%
Jews still talk too much
about what happened to
them in the Holocaust
0%
54%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
19
France
Percent responding “probably true” to
each statement
38%
Jews are more loyal to
Israel than to this country
39%
2009
2007
33%
Jews have too much
power in the business
world
28%
27%
Jews have too much
power in international
financial markets
28%
33%
Jews still talk too much
about what happened to
them in the Holocaust
0%
40%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
20
Germany
Percent responding “probably true” to
each statement
53%
Jews are more loyal to
Israel than to this country
51%
2009
2007
21%
Jews have too much
power in the business
world
21%
22%
Jews have too much
power in international
financial markets
25%
45%
Jews still talk too much
about what happened to
them in the Holocaust
0%
45%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
21
Hungary
Percent responding “probably true” to
each statement
40%
Jew s are m ore loyal to
Israel than to this country
2009
50%
2007
67%
Jew s have too m uch pow er
in the business w orld
60%
59%
Jew s have too m uch pow er
in international financial
m arkets
61%
56%
Jew s still talk too m uch
about w hat happened to
them in the Holocaust
0%
58%
20%
40%
60%
80%
22
Poland
Percent responding “probably true” to
each statement
63%
Jews are more loyal to
Israel than to this country
59%
55%
Jews have too much
power in the business
world
49%
2009
2007
54%
Jews have too much
power in international
financial markets
54%
55%
Jews still talk too much
about what happened to
them in the Holocaust
0%
58%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
23
Spain
Percent responding “probably true” to
each statement
64%
Jews are more loyal to
Israel than to this country
60%
2009
2007
56%
Jews have too much
power in the business
world
53%
74%
Jews have too much
power in international
financial markets
68%
42%
Jews still talk too much
about what happened to
them in the Holocaust
0%
46%
20%
40%
60%
80%
24
United Kingdom
Percent responding “probably true” to
each statement
37%
Jews are more loyal to
Israel than to this country
50%
2009
15%
Jews have too much
power in the business
world
2007
22%
15%
Jews have too much
power in international
financial markets
21%
20%
Jews still talk too much
about what happened to
them in the Holocaust
0%
28%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
25
Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree
or strongly disagree with the following statement: “The Jews
are responsible for the death of Christ.”
Percent responding “strongly agree” + “somewhat agree”
60%
48%
39%
40%
33%
26%
20%
0%
22%
20%
17%
Austria
21%
22%
19%
15%
14%
13%
11%
France
Germany
2007
Hungary
Poland
2009
Spain
United
Kingdom
26
In your opinion, is the violence directed against European
Jews a result of anti-Jewish feelings or a result of anti-Israel
sentiment?
Percent responding “anti-Jewish feelings”
60%
50%
48%
48%
44%
40%
40% 39%
39%
37%
36%
33%
26%
30%
19%
20%
0%
27%
Austria
France
Germany
2007
Hungary
Poland
Spain
United
Kingdom
2009
Percent responding “anti-Israel sentiment”
60%
38%
40%
33%
34%
30%
26%25%
22%
20%
0%
26%
24%25%
16% 17%
Austria
France
Germany
2007
Hungary
17%
14%
Poland
2009
Spain
United
Kingdom