Germany’s Dignity Gap in Politics, Society, and at Work
In their first policy brief “Taking the Pulse of the Country,” University of Mannheim professors Dr. Oliver Spalt and Dr. Richard Traunmüller set out to examine the level of approval and respect people in Germany experience from politicians, within society, and at work. The political realm reveals the biggest discrepancy between expectations and reality, a phenomenon that is also known as the “dignity gap.”
Even amidst debates about political conflict, labor conditions, technological and medical advancements, or a myriad of crises plaguing the country like migration, the pandemic or climate change, there is one common denominator most people can agree on: Treating others with respect, acknowledging the inalienable rights and dignity of others is of utmost importance. In turn, so is a violation of these rights. Through their most recent study, the German Internet Panel (GIP) has developed a method to measure the level of dignity individuals experience in society. The team of researchers conducted surveys with 3,683 participants to ask them about the level of dignity and respect they experience in society, at work and from politicians.
Human Dignity Is Measurable
We experience respect, or a lack thereof, through a multitude of daily interactions with others. A large part of this notion stems from the desire to be seen as an autonomous person who is valued by those around us. The study identifies two interconnected aspects of human dignity, namely self-respect and social approval. Self-respect refers to the basic human need to think of ourselves as making valuable contributions to society and public welfare. According to the survey, a majority of German citizens (85% and 74%, respectively) feel that their contributions to society at large are of considerable value and use. Strikingly, the number of people who view their contributions to a functioning democracy as valuable and useful is somewhat smaller at 65%.
Moreover, to accurately measure how people experience social approval, the researchers divided this category into three dimensions: respect, autonomy and equality. The majority of people in Germany (65%) feel they are being treated with respect in their role as a member of society and in the workplace. They also feel that their choices are respected, and they are accepted as an equal member of society. Things look somewhat different when it comes to the political realm. Only little more than half of German citizens feel that their politicians respect them. Notably, about a third of respondents indicate experiencing a lack of respect from politicians. “This comes down to the usual slogans in the vein of ‘We need to do better when it comes to civics and educating folks about what we do’ or ‘We need to meet voters where they're at.’ Phrases like these can make people feel that politicians are patronizing them,” co-authors Spalt and Traunmüller explain.
Expectation vs. Reality: Understanding the “Dignity Gap”
For a deeper insight into how respondents perceive respect in their daily lives, the survey also explores their expectations of being treated as an autonomous, equal person. By analyzing this data, the team of researchers were able to ascertain if their expectations were consistent with reality. This discrepancy between expectation and reality, then, is what the GIP has coined the “dignity gap.” Here are some key takeaways: Respondents are more concerned with respect and equality than autonomy. This goes for all three categories. The biggest “dignity gap” stems from the realm of politics, the smallest from the workplace.
Alternative für Deutschland Voters Experience Biggest Gap
Differences in age or generation have no significant impact on the dignity gap. However, both at work and on a societal level, people under 35 experience a bigger discrepancy between expectation and reality than people over the age of 65. In general, women, East Germans and people who do not have German citizenship experience a bigger difference compared to men, West Germans and people with German citizenship. Truly significant differences, however, exist only at work, where workers’ level of education creates significant divides. For instance, people without a university degree feel a distinct lack of respect in how they are treated by politicians.
Voters that lean toward the center of the political spectrum tend to be the most content, particularly voters of the CDU/
What Makes This Study So Important
The research results shed light on how individuals experience respect and dignity in different societal realms, providing a benchmark for measuring the effectiveness of our social compact. Big dignity gaps experienced by individuals are indicative of bigger issues in society at large. They deserve our full attention because they may directly impact our level of life satisfaction, economic productivity and the stability of our democratic system. “The first step has to be a return to a form of dialog that is respectful and appreciative. Trust and respect can be quickly lost, but it takes a long time to restore them,” Spalt and Traunmüller state.
The German Internet Panel
This marks the first in a series of reports entitled “Taking the Pulse of the Country” which we plan to publish on a regular basis moving forward. The aim of the series is to make the research results from the German Internet Panel available to the public, to journalists and policy makers. It intends to contribute research-based insight and analysis to potentially controversial issues in society and politics.
The German Internet Panel (GIP) is based at the University of Mannheim and committed to long-term research. The GIP examines the individual attitudes and preferences that can impact political and economic decision-making processes. To this end, the GIP has been gathering data through surveys in Germany, with a sample size of over 3,500 respondents aged 16 to 75.
Text: Fabio Kratzmaier / April 2025