Anti-Semitism Among Adolescents in Germany and Switzerland. What Role Does Religious Affiliation Play?

Abstract

Against the backdrop of the recent escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, this article analyses the prevalence and influencing factors of anti-Semitic attitudes among Christian and Muslim adolescents. For this, comprehensive youth surveys in Switzerland and Lower Saxony are used, in which, among others, 776 and 1,367 Muslims were reached. The results show, firstly, that Muslims in both countries have significantly higher rates of approval of anti-Semitic attitudes, with no differences between different Muslim ethnic groups. Secondly, an increasing influence of religiosity on anti-Semitic attitudes is only found for Muslims. Thirdly, the higher approval of anti-Semitic attitudes among Muslims can partly be explained by a lower level of education and a higher acceptance of masculinity norms.