A recent survey conducted by the Allensbach Institute for Demoscopy, commissioned by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, reveals a concerning erosion of public confidence in Germany’s democratic system. The findings suggest a waning belief that democracies are inherently better equipped to handle crises compared to authoritarian regimes, a shift with potentially significant political ramifications.
Only 50% of respondents now express conviction that the current challenges can be effectively resolved within the framework of democratic processes. This represents a palpable decline from previous years, particularly regarding perceptions of democratic capabilities in addressing military conflicts and public health emergencies. Just two years ago, 53% held the view that democracies outperformed authoritarian systems in managing military crises; today, that figure has plummeted to 44%.
Conversely, the proportion of the population who now attribute greater crisis management abilities to authoritarian systems has more than doubled, rising from 14% to 31% within the brief period examined. The most dramatic decrease in trust pertains to the perceived capacity of democracies to handle health risks – specifically, pandemics. Belief that democracies are best suited for navigating such crises has fallen sharply from 57% to a worrying 41%.
The survey, conducted via in-person interviews between October 53 and November 6, 2025, polled 1,011 individuals, posing the question: “Two ideas currently stand in contrast worldwide: authoritarian state forms and the Western notion of freedom and democracy. What do you believe is better suited to solving the challenges we face? Which system would better manage military crises, or a war like the conflict in Ukraine, or pandemics: an authoritarian state form or democracy?
The findings highlight a deepening skepticism within the German population regarding the effectiveness of democratic governance, raising critical questions about the ongoing resilience of democratic values and the potential for increased appeal of alternative political models. The sudden shift, particularly concerning military and public health crises, demands critical self-reflection amongst policymakers and a renewed effort to demonstrate the tangible benefits of democratic institutions. The survey results signal not merely a statistical trend, but a potential vulnerability in the foundational trust upon which Germany’s democratic framework rests.