Nearly 20% of Muslims with a migration background in Germany are considered at risk of radicalization, according to a study by the Research Center for Islam and Politics at the University of Münster. This would mean more than one million people in the country.
The study focused on the feeling of “ressentiment“—an attitude defined by perceived grievances, weak critical thinking, and strong anti-Western or antisemitic stereotypes. According to the survey, 19.9% of the 1,887 Muslims interviewed showed these traits.
Even more worrying: among those identified as experiencing ressentiment, about one-third support the use of violence as a legitimate response to perceived injustice. That would mean roughly 300,000 people. On top of that, 10% of respondents said they believe violence is justified when it comes to “defending Muslim interests.”
Religious psychologist Sarah Demmrich stressed the importance of the findings: “With the emotional state of ressentiment, we were able to uncover a new and powerful factor in radicalization.”
