This monitor from the MOTRA research network describes the radicalization process in Germany during a period of sustained social uncertainty: It paints a picture of stabilization at a critically high level, without yet indicating a trend reversal. While overtly extremist attitudes are not increasing overall, openness to authoritarian, antisemitic, and anti-democratic interpretations continues to grow, particularly among younger population groups. At the same time, politically motivated crime, hate crimes, and attacks on public officials and elected representatives are reaching new highs, even if serious violence remains the exception. The report demonstrates how social conflicts intensify in digital public spheres, in attitudes, and ultimately in actions, while simultaneously highlighting that a pro-democratic majority is confronted by a small but increasingly unhinged radical minority.
Kemmesies, U., Wetzels, P., Austin, B., Büscher, C., Grube, F., Hutter, S., Richter, T., Rieger, D. & Sobota, S. (eds.) (2026). MOTRA Monitor 2024/2025. MOTRA. https://doi.org/10.57671/isbn.978-3-911329-02-6_2026_motra
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MOTRA
MOTRA
2026
595
German
https://doi.org/10.57671/isbn.978-3-911329-02-6_2026_motra
978-3-911329-02-6
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Chapter selection
Digital Transformation: (Dis)continuities in the use of social and political alternative media in the context of extremism-prone attitudes, 2021–2025
Authors:
Simon Greipl, Julian Hohner, Heidi Schulze, Diana Rieger
Crisis perceptions, loss of trust and the spread of extremist and anti-Semitic attitudes among people in Germany from 2021 to 2025
Authors:
Katrin Brettfeld, Peter Wetzels, Jannik MK Fischer, Diego Farren and Rebecca Endtrich
Islamophobia in Germany: Findings and trends between April 2023 and July 2025
Authors:
Thomas Richter, Diego Farren, Rebecca Endtricht, Janosch Kleinschnittger, Jannik MK Fischer, Katrin Brettfeld, Peter Wetzels
Democracy, Gaza, agriculture: Three waves of protest mobilization in 2024/25
Authors:
Greta Frederike Groß, Naama Lutz, Swen Hutter
Two perspectives, one finding: Hostility towards local politicians in a comparison of reported and unreported cases.
Authors:
Sarah Bitschnau, Kirsten Eberspach
Politically motivated crime in Germany 2024: Trends, focus areas and regional distribution in reported cases
Authors:
David Bretschi, Sandra Michaelis, Sarah Bitschnau
MOTRA Victim Monitoring (MOMo): Victimization in the context of prejudice-driven crime and group-related hostility.
Author:
Uwe Kemmesies, Beate Ehret, Holger Stroezel
"Once you've got people to the point where they don't feel at home here..." Radicalization in the context of current social dynamics
Author:
Michaela Glaser
Are machines part of political extremist communication?
Authors:
Christian Büscher, Tim Röller, Octavia Madeira, Georg Plattner
Terrorist act and criminal past – A search for clues in the criminal records of jihadist individuals
Authors:
Lena Fecher, Maria-Anna Hirth, Rebecca Alice Hofmann, Sebastian Sobota
Research monitoring
The Ukraine war in conspiracy narratives as a driver of radicalization in security organizations
Author:
Meik Nowak
Aggression and violence against politicians in Germany – Initial findings and perspectives of an ongoing research project
Authors:
Pia Wilsdorf, Philipp Müller, Arne Dreißigacker, Laura-Romina Goede, Anna Hahnemann, Jonah Hirschmann, Anne-Kathrin Kreft, Farina Rühs
