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A New Social Conflict on Globalisation-Related Issues in Germany? A Longitudinal Perspective
Céline Teney1, Li Kathrin Rupieper2
1Institute of Sociology, Freie Universität Berlin, Garystr. 55, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
Kolner Zeitschrift Fur Soziologie Und Sozialpsychologie
|June 26, 2023
Summary
A study on globalization issues in Germany found little evidence of a growing social conflict. Despite increased attention to immigration and environmental concerns, public opinion remained stable, hindering political mobilization.
Area of Science:
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Social Conflict Studies
Background:
- Cleavage theory suggests issue salience and polarization drive political mobilization.
- Globalization has become a significant topic in public discourse.
- Understanding social conflict dynamics is crucial for political stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the emergence of social conflict related to globalization in Germany (1989-2019).
- To test hypotheses derived from globalization cleavage theory regarding issue salience and opinion polarization.
- To examine public attitudes on immigration, the EU, economic liberalism, and environmental issues.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of public opinion data from 1989 to 2019.
- Examination of issue salience and opinion polarization trends.
- Application of globalization cleavage theory framework.
Main Results:
- Issue salience for the EU and economic liberalism remained low.
- Immigration and environmental issue salience increased recently (since 2015/2018).
- No consistent evidence of increased overall or between-group opinion polarization was found.
Conclusions:
- The hypothesis of an emerging globalization conflict in Germany lacks strong empirical support.
- Stable public attitudes suggest limited potential for political mobilization around these issues.
- Recent increases in salience for specific issues have not translated into widespread polarization.
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