Xenophobia

Xenophobia (or also ‘Fremdenfeindlichkeit’ in German) refers to critical, ostracizing and hostile attitudes and positions towards people and groups that are perceived and defined as ‘foreign’ or ‘not German’. The concept of ‘foreign’ or ‘not German’ is a construct and an arbitrary affiliation that is usually based on skin color, ethnic origin, religion or language and has nothing to do with the actual nationality of the affected person. Nowadays, as the term xenophobia suggests that it refers to ‘foreign’ or ‘non-German’ people, although they have German nationality, the term racism is preferable from a racist-critical perspective.

Sources: Federal Agency for Civic Education; Vielfalt Mediathek; IDA-NRW