Threats to Democracy: Spatial and Individual Drivers of Crimes Against Politicians in Germany

• In Event: State and Political Crime

Abstract

Hostile acts and assaults against politicians have developed a concerning dynamic both nationally and internationally. These incidents go beyond isolated cases and represent attacks on democratic structures that can have a lasting impact on the political and societal climate. A comprehensive understanding of this phenomenon is necessary to develop effective preventive and repressive strategies to minimize damage and protect the democratic process.
This presentation provides initial findings from an empirical analysis of politically motivated crimes against politicians in Germany between 2019 and 2023 at the municipal level. Using regression analyses, both individual characteristics of the suspects and structural factors of the municipalities are examined to identify patterns and risk factors of these crimes.
The results show that particularly spatial and socio-economic conditions at the local and regional level play a central role. These findings provide important insights for targeted prevention and security strategies, enabling early intervention against threats to politicians and the long-term protection of democratic structures.

Author

• Sarah Bitschnau, Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA)