Hard to imagine given Austria’s past, but many people in this country still believe in anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. The crises of recent years have fueled this superstition in some cases, as shown by Parliament’s anti-Semitism report presented on Tuesday.
For the third time – after 2018 and 2020 – IFES investigated attitudes towards Jews on behalf of parliament. For the current study, 2,000 people aged 16 and older were surveyed by telephone and online from mid-October to the end of November last year. Once again, the total sample has been enlarged by including almost 1,000 people with a Turkish or Arab migration background living in Austria in a separate sample.
Thousands of years old conspiracy myths
The result: Conspiracy myths, some dating back thousands of years, heavily influence anti-Semitic attitudes. These in themselves need not even have anything to do with Judaism. But there are also other factors. Higher educated people agree significantly less with anti-Semitic statements. Basic knowledge about Jews is also crucial – for example about the number of people killed in the Holocaust.
For example, 36 percent of those polled in an IFES survey found that Jews ruled “international business.” 19 percent agreed that Jews had too much influence in Austria. 18 percent see ‘Jewish elites’ responsible for the current price increases.
“It is no coincidence that the Jews were so often persecuted”
Conspiracy myths also continue to thrive in relation to the Holocaust. In the IFES study, 36 percent felt that Jews today “benefited” from persecution during National Socialism. At least 19 percent agreed with the statement: “It is no coincidence that the Jews have been persecuted so often throughout their history; they are at least partly to blame.” And 11 percent thought the coverage of concentration camps and the persecution of the Jews was exaggerated.
Far more anti-Semitic attitudes were found in the supplementation group with a migration background, with project coordinator Thomas Stern emphasizing that this is not a “monolithic bloc”. Israel-related anti-Semitism in particular is more strongly represented here. For example, 62 percent said Israelis would behave toward Palestinians no differently than the Germans did in World War II.
“The crisis follows anti-Semitism”
Events such as the corona pandemic and the Russian offensive war against Ukraine and its consequences have also influenced anti-Semitic prejudice. “You could say that anti-Semitism follows a crisis,” Stern summarized. Study director Eva Zeglovits also had positive things to say. Younger respondents aged 16 to 25 could certainly identify anti-Semitism in their environment – especially on social networks, but also in their own circle of acquaintances and at school.
The chairman of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP), who also commissioned the investigation, again described anti-Semitism as a threat to democracy. It is also not a phenomenon of political fringe groups, but is simply visible there. “We need a variety of tools and a new way of thinking,” Sobotka pleaded. When asked why his party ruled Lower Austria with the FPÖ, he simply replied that any movement had to come to terms with its past.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
