Mixed picture in Austria as survey shows drop in antisemitic attitudes while social media promotes conspiracy myths and antisemitism
A new survey of antisemitism in Austria shows mixed results. While the survey suggested a significant fall in antisemitic attitudes compared with the same past surveys, it also showed a much higher level than surveys by other organisations.
The Austrian government commissioned the survey in 2020 from the Institute for Empirical Social Studies. The results were presented earlier in March.
According to the survey, 31% of the 2,000 respondents agreed with statements designed to reveal anti-Jewish bias. This compares with 46% of respondents agreeing with such statements in 2018.
However the survey still showed worrying levels of antisemitism, with study director Eva Zeglovits pointing out “a clear link between trust in social media, conspiracy myths and antisemitism.” Respondents who had greater trust in social media were more likely to agree with the statement that “reports on concentration camps and the persecution of Jews during World War II were exaggerated,” compared with those who got their news from traditional media.
Responding to a statement that “a powerful and influential elite,” such as Soros, Rothschild and Zuckerberg, was using the “corona pandemic to further expand their wealth and political influence,” 28% of the respondents feel the statement was “very correct” or “rather correct.”
Despite the slight improvement, the Government-funded survey showed a significantly higher prevalence of antisemitism than surveys by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which, in its 2019 survey for the Global 100 Index, revealed antisemitic opinions in Austria were at 20%. This was a drop from 28% in its 2014 Global 100 Index.
Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.