Immigration Problems in Terms of German Public Opinion (Case Study of Internet Media During 2015–2019)

Abstract

Modern Germany plays active role in global migration movement and public opinion has an important part in the adaptation and integration of immigrants. Their count has seen yearly increases and this will continue, also due to children born in their families in Germany. The country has seen debates ongoing for the last 10 years regarding the necessity of the immigration. The debates in political circles could not help but touch ordinary German citizens who meet the foreigners both in professional and everyday life. Nowadays Internet is the most convenient place for the local population to express its opinion. People can use website comments and blogs to openly express their position and get feedback from their fellow citizens. Migration crisis of 2015–2016 showed that Germans care about what’s happening in their country, they actively defend their opinion and urge the government to hear them. It is expressed in numerous discussions taking place on the Internet. This article analyses German public opinion based on publications in periodic mass media during last five years (2015–2019) and also their discussions on the Internet. A spectrum of the main problems is established which mainly cause debates: necessity of admitting refugees, country’s capacity for their integration, increase of Muslim population in the country etc.