A diagnosis and policy advice to address information asymmetries between the German government actions and public perceptions concerning the foreign and security policy sphere.
About the brief
This policy brief highlights the perils of a widespread misinformation among the German public concerning the foreign and security policy sphere and suggests possible policy interventions for the new German government. Findings reveal that the German public’s security risk perceptions are severely skewed, overestimating the risk of terrorist attacks on German soil and a lack of knowledge concerning government’s policy responses towards a security crisis scenario. The implications of these findings reveal an urgent need to address the information asymmetries between the German government actions and the German public perceptions, which can paralyse German domestic political decision-making during a security crisis, as well as hamper the German government’s effort to effectively coordinate with international allies.
Authors
Marina Henke, Julian Wucherpfennig
Downloads
Addressing Germany’s governance challenges series
This report is part of the Hertie School’s policy briefs project for public reform. Learn more about the project.
About the authors
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Marina Henke, Professor of International Relations | Director, Centre for International Security
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Julian Wucherpfennig, Professor of International Affairs and Security