# German Democratic Support Falls Below 90 Percent Threshold Leipzig Authoritarianism Study reveals declining democratic approval and rising extremist sentiment across Germany. - **Source:** [Der Spiegel – Schlagzeilen](https://www.spiegel.de) - **Published:** 2026-11-11 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/5cc501df-9465-4efa-b09b-35252c3a3bb7 ## Democratic Approval Declines For the first time since 2002, national support for democracy as an ideal has dropped below the 90 percent threshold, reaching 89.3 percent. The Leipzig Authoritarianism Study highlights that only one-third of participants believe democracy functions effectively in daily life. This shift reflects a growing trend of systemic dissatisfaction across the nation. ## Regional Disparities in Support The decline is primarily driven by a sharp drop in East Germany, where democratic approval fell from 94.6 percent in 2024 to 85.7 percent. Conversely, West Germany experienced a slight increase in support during the same period. These divergent regional trends underscore a widening political divide between the eastern and western federal states. ## Rise of Extremist Views The share of individuals holding a closed right-wing extremist worldview currently stands at 6.9 percent nationwide. While this remains below the 8.8 percent recorded in 2012, it marks a notable increase. Regional differences persist here as well, with 8.5 percent of East Germans holding these views compared to 6.5 percent in the West. ## Gender and Authoritarianism Gender differences in political attitudes are significant, as 5.6 percent of men support a right-wing authoritarian dictatorship, compared to only 3 percent of women. Furthermore, chauvinism—the belief in the superiority of one's own group—is more prevalent among men at 22 percent, while 18 percent of women report holding similar convictions. ## Regressive Nostalgia Dynamics Researchers identified 'regressive nostalgia' in 15 percent of respondents, characterized by contrasting an idealized past against a perceived corrupt present. This aggressive sentiment is significantly more common among older individuals, those in lower income brackets, East Germans, and respondents without an Abitur, compared to younger, wealthier, or more highly educated citizens. ## Methodology and Scope The survey was conducted between March 16 and June 3, involving 2,507 participants aged 16 and older with sufficient German language proficiency. The study was produced by the University of Leipzig in cooperation with the Heinrich Böll Foundation and the Otto Brenner Foundation, utilizing detailed questionnaires to measure complex political and social attitudes. ## Measuring Political Sentiment To quantify these attitudes, researchers asked participants to position themselves regarding statements about social respect and economic advantages. Respondents evaluated claims such as feeling frustrated by a perceived lack of respect compared to the past, or experiencing longing for economic benefits that were previously available to people in their specific social position. ## Societal Implications The findings suggest a complex shift in German political culture, where economic anxiety and regional identity influence democratic commitment. As support for democratic ideals wanes, the rise of extremist worldviews and regressive nostalgia presents a challenge for social cohesion. Future analysis will likely focus on whether these trends stabilize or continue to escalate. ## Sources covering this story - [Der Spiegel – Schlagzeilen — German Democracy Support Drops Below 90 Percent Threshold](https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/autoritarismus-studie-zustimmung-fuer-demokratie-sinkt-auf-tiefstwert-a-8d5f7504-e0aa-4714-be3e-829877a6238b#ref=rss) - [Deutschlandfunk — Rising Democratic Dissatisfaction in Germany](https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/unzufriedenheit-mit-der-demokratie-in-deutschland-waechst-102.html) - [Der Spiegel – Politik — German Democracy Support Drops Below 90 Percent Threshold](https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/autoritarismus-studie-zustimmung-fuer-demokratie-sinkt-auf-tiefstwert-a-8d5f7504-e0aa-4714-be3e-829877a6238b#ref=rss) - [DW – Top Stories — German Democracy Faces Rising Support for Authoritarianism](https://www.dw.com/en/democracy-study-one-quarter-of-germans-want-a-right-wing-authoritarian-dictatorship/a-79922718?maca=en-rss-en-top-1022-rdf) - [Deutschlandfunk — Experts Argue Authoritarian Trends in Germany Are Not Inevitable](https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/experten-autoritaere-entwicklungen-sind-kein-schicksal-100.html) --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._