Over a third of Poles “harbour antisemitic attitudes”, finds international study

Jun 2, 2023 | Society

Over a third (35%) of people in Poland “harbour antisemitic attitudes”, according to a new study by the US-based Anti-Defamation League (ADL). That was the second highest figure among ten European countries surveyed, behind only Hungary (37%). However, it was significantly lower than in the previous edition of the study.

The ADL asked a random and representative sample of people in each of those countries whether they agreed with 11 statements commonly associated with antisemitic views. Those who answered that a majority of the statements were “probably true” were classified as harbouring antisemitic attitudes.

After Hungary and Poland, the next highest levels were found in Ukraine (29%), Russia and Spain (both 26%), and Belgium (22%). The remaining countries were France (15%), Germany (12%), the United Kingdom (10%), and the Netherlands (6%).

Separately, the ADL also asked directly if people have a favourable or unfavourable opinion of Jews. In Poland, 64% said they had a favourable view, while 19% admitted to the opposite. That latter figure was the highest among all countries surveyed, with Hungary (15%) and Spain (14%) in second and third.

When presented with the antisemitic stereotypes, 62% of people in Poland said it was “probably true” that Jews are more loyal to Israel than their own country, 57% that they talk too much about what happened to them during the Holocaust, and 53% that they have too much power in the business world and financial markets.

Meanwhile, 36% of Poles find it probably true that Jews “have too much control over global affairs” and “don’t care what happens to anyone but their own kind”. A similar proportion (35%) agreed that “Jews have too much control over the United States government” and “think they are better than other people”.

Finally, 34% of people in Poland said it is probably true that “people hate Jews because of the way Jews behave”, 27% that “Jews have too much control over the global media”, and 10% that “Jews are responsible for most wars”.

Overall, 35% of people in Poland said that over half of these statements were probably true. That figure was down from 48% the last time the survey was published in 2019.

In a separate question, 21% of Poles agreed with the statement that “the Holocaust happened, but the number of Jews who died in it has been greatly exaggerated by history”. That was the highest finding in any country surveyed, ahead of Ukraine and Hungary (both 18%).

Poland also had the lowest proportion of people who said they interact with Jews either very often or somewhat often (8% combined).

While Poland once had Europe’s largest Jewish population, numbering over three million before World War Two, around 85% were killed during the Holocaust and many others fled in the postwar period. There are now only 15,700 people who identify as Jews in Poland, according to the 2021 census.

The ADL’s findings echo those from other studies. Earlier this year, Polish state research agency CBOS found that 29% of Poles say they dislike Jews, up from 27% in 2022. CBOS also found in 2021 that 19% of Poles believe it is “good that [World War Two] resulted in fewer Jews in Poland”.

A survey of Jews in 12 EU countries published in 2018 by the EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency found that 85% said antisemitism is a problem in Poland. That was the joint-third highest figure among all countries, equal with Hungary and behind Belgium (86%) and France (95%).

A poll among the general Polish population by SW Research for the Rzeczpospolita daily in 2019 found that a majority, 54%, agreed with the statement that “Poland has a problem with antisemitism” while 30% disagreed.

However, some Polish-Jewish leaders – including chief rabbi Michael Schudrich – have argued that Jews in Poland are relatively safe from physical attacks compared to their counterparts in most western European countries.

Main image credit: Tomasz Fritz / Agencja Wyborcza.pl

Pin It on Pinterest

Support us!