Germany decides: social justice comes before freedom!

Germany decides: social justice comes before freedom!

In Germany, social justice is highly valued by the population, as a new survey shows. Hermann Binkert, head of Insa, illuminates the results of these surveys and the methods of opinion research in his book “How Germany Ticks. An Opinion Researcher Unpacks”. According to the surveys he presents, 58% of Germans see social justice as more important than economic freedom, which only 34% of respondents prioritize. This shows a strong public interest in social policy issues.

What is particularly striking is that almost half of 18 to 29 year olds (50%) favor economic freedom. This age group provides an interesting contrast to older populations where the priority is social justice. In East Germany there is also a pronounced need for social justice compared to West Germany.

Political influences on attitudes

Political location has a significant influence on voters' opinions. An analysis of the polls shows that 76% of voters from Die Linke and 69% from the SPD describe themselves as “more socialist”. 40% of AfD voters also see themselves in a similar position. In contrast, 57% of FDP voters identify as “more capitalist”. Among CDU/CSU voters, the proportion of those who see themselves as “more socialist” or “more capitalist” is evenly distributed.

In addition, there are a significant number of people who believe that the Office for the Protection of the Constitution may be abused for political purposes. Here it is 48% of those surveyed, with 74% of AfD and 62% of FDP voters believing in such abuse. Only among the Greens is there a relative majority that considers this abuse to be unlikely.

Social justice and demographic factors

The surveys also provide data on income distribution and social issues. While 45% of low earners (income below 1000 euros) report health problems, the figure is only 76% of higher earners (4000 euros and more). Loneliness is also strongly dependent on income: 47% of low earners express fear of loneliness, in contrast to 32% of high earners. This highlights the connections between income, health and social well-being.

Overall, current opinion research shows a clear picture: social justice is preferred by a majority of respondents in Germany, while economic freedom is favored primarily by younger men and higher earners. These results not only reflect social views, but also illustrate the complexity of the political landscape in Germany. Binkert warns that the results of opinion research are often prematurely questioned because the social environment and algorithms influence perception.