Anti-Semitism and homophobia are on the rise in Europe, according to an annual study of social trends involving xenophobia.
For the first time, the “German Situation” study, conducted by the University of Bielefeld Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on Conflict and Violence under sociologist Wilhelm Heitmeyer, included attitudes in other European countries.
The study, released Sunday, found that fear of Islam and hatred of Muslims has dropped slightly since 2008 in Europe, and that general xenophobia, sexism and racism have declined as well. Overall, Germans are no more xenophobic now than in 2002, when the first study was conducted.
But an increase in anti-Semitism could be linked to economic fears, social psychologist Beate Kupper told reporters Sunday.
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