A Legacy of the Third Reich: Concentration Camps and Outgroup Tolerance

• In Event: Comparative Preference Formation and Voting

Abstract

We explore the long-term political consequences of the Third Reich and show that current political intolerance, xenophobia, and voting for right-wing parties are associated with proximity to former concentration camps in Germany. This relationship is not explained by contemporary attitudes, the location of the camps, or early support for the Nazi party. We argue that (1) cognitive dissonance and (2) targeted indoctrination efforts led those more directly exposed to Nazi institutions to conform with the belief system of the regime. These attitudes were then transmitted across generations. The evidence provided here contributes both to our understanding of the legacies of historical institutions, and the sources of political intolerance.

Authors

• Jonathan Homola, Rice University

• William M Simoneau

• Margit Tavits, Washington University in St. Louis

• Miguel Maria Pereira, Washington University in St. Louis