How Much Societal Self-Empowerment is There?

Abstract

Based on two representative population surveys, the chapter discusses the extent of societal self-empowerment in Germany in 2020. It turns out that almost two thirds of the respondents are willing to break the law in exceptional situations in order to follow their conscience. If, on the other hand, one asks whether one is allowed to take the law into one’s own hands or whether one must only adhere to rules if one agrees with them, if one is threatened with being caught or if the government also adheres to the rules, the agreement decreases significantly. However, the study of two concrete examples, the climate school strikes (3 items) and societal self-empowerment in the context of Corona measures (4 items), shows that societal self-empowerment is indeed socially relevant. Around a quarter of the respondents support the climate protests taking place during school time and thus violating the legal obligation to attend school, and at least six percent state that they have only sometimes complied with the Corona restrictions. However, it depends on the concrete subject whether people are willing to self-empower or not. People who participate in climate strikes therefore do not necessarily comply any less with the Corona restrictions—on the contrary.