The Leipzig Authoritarianism Studies

Since 2002, the Leipzig working group headed by Elmar Brähler and Oliver Decker has been examining right-wing extremist attitudes in Germany. The survey, which is carried out every two years, is considered the basis for research into right-wing extremist attitudes and their penetration into broad sections of the population.

Representative surveys are carried out every two years as part of the series of studies known as “Leipzig Mitte Studies.” In 2008, the results of the representative study from 2006 were elaborated through a group discussion study. From 2006 to 2012, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation joined the study as a cooperation partner. In 2016, the study was carried out in cooperation with the Otto Brenner Foundation, the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, and the Heinrich Böll Foundation. Since 2018, the study was undertaken in cooperation with the Otto Brenner Foundation and the Heinrich Böll Foundation. In the same year, the name of the series was changed to “Leipzig Authoritarianism Studies.”

BASIS FOR RESEARCHING EXTREME RIGHT ATTITUDES

Over the years, the study has developed into a highly regarded barometer of political attitudes in Germany. The data obtained and the sociopsychological analysis of the series of studies at Leipzig University have now become the nation-wide basis for dealing with right-wing extremism.

Project manager: Prof. Dr. Oliver Decker and Prof. Dr. Elmar Braehler