Antisemitism in Germany and the Politics of Blame

The politics of blame: Accusing immigrants won’t solve Germany’s antisemitism problem

By Oliver Schmidtke published on TheConversation.com

In a Fox News interview, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz asserted that Germany has “imported antisemitism” through large-scale migration over the past decade. While there is a genuine concern—especially following the spike in antisemitic incidents after the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel—Merz’s focus on immigrant attitudes diverts attention from Germany’s enduring internal antisemitism and risks fueling anti-immigrant rhetoric.

As Oliver Schmidtke outlines, antisemitic incidents have surged, yet the Research and Information Centre on Antisemitism (RIAS) reports that nearly half stem from right-wing extremist ideology. Though incidents classified under “foreign ideologies” have increased, Merz’s narrative simplifies a complex issue and distracts from the rise of far-right forces like the Alternative for Germany (AfD), which actively seeks to erode Holocaust remembrance.

The article emphasizes deeper problems: Holocaust education is failing to resonate with younger Germans, immigrants often feel excluded from Germany’s memory culture, and tying commitment to Holocaust awareness in citizenship tests can unintentionally alienate newcomers. Schmidtke warns that framing antisemitism as an “imported” issue both undermines a shared national memory and weakens the broader struggle against racism.

Oliver Schmidtke calls for a more comprehensive strategy—one that bridges anti-racist and anti-antisemitism efforts, ensuring Holocaust remembrance remains a unifying, inclusive moral and political commitment for Germany’s diverse society.