Exclusive versus inclusive? Attitudes toward foreigners in the context of national and European identity

In the face of globalization, modernization, and international migration, the debate on a national self-image of the Germans undergoes a continuous boom. The discussion is accompanied by demands on youth to actively and self-consciously commit themselves to the nation and its culture. At the same time, hopes on a unified Europe without ethnic-nationalistic discriminations are pinned on the younger generation. This poses two questions: To what extent are German and European identities compatible with each other? What are their consequences with regard to the treatment of foreigners? On the basis of two representative samples, it can be shown that most young Germans do not see a contradiction between their identification with Germany and with Europe. Furthermore, the assumption of a positive association between a strong national identity and a higher degree of xenophobic attitudes can be confirmed, while a strong identification with Europe tends to act as a safeguard against the rejection of foreigners.