A Survey of Attitudes Toward Jews in Mexico
A Survey of Attitudes Toward Jews in Mexico
Methodology
Methodology – Main Sample
The Anti-Defamation League commissioned First International Resources to update attitudes
and opinions toward Jews in Mexico. Fieldwork and data collection for this international public
opinion project were conducted and coordinated by Anzalone Liszt Grove Research. All
interviews were conducted between January 18 – February 1, 2017.
Expected margin of sampling error at the 95% confidence level is ± ±4.1%.
The margin of error is higher for sub-groups within Mexico. Interviews were conducted via
landline telephones, mobile phones and face-to-face discussions.
All respondents were selected at random. Telephone respondents were selected using
random-digit dial sampling;
3
Methodology – Telephone Interviewing
Interviews were collected using a combination of landline and mobile phone
dialing, in proportion to Mexico’s coverage rate for each telephone type.
The data was weighted to be reflective of the national population on a
number of demographic measures, including age, gender, religion,
urban/rural location, ethnicity, and language spoken.
Sources for population data was the United States Census Bureau and the
UN Department of Social and Economic Affairs - Population Division.
4
ANTI-SEMITIC STEREOTYPES
1) Jews are more loyal to Israel than to [this country/the countries they live in].
2) Jews have too much power in the business world.
3) Jews have too much power in international financial markets.
4) Jews don’t care about what happens to anyone but their own kind.
5) Jews have too much control over global affairs.
6) People hate Jews because of the way Jews behave.
7) Jews think they are better than other people.
8) Jews have too much control over the United States government.
9) Jews have too much control over the global media.
10) Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the Holocaust.
11) Jews are responsible for most of the world’s wars.
As in 2014 and 2015, we created Index Scores by asking whether the following negative
stereotypes are “probably true” or “probably false.” Respondents who said at least 6 out of 11
statements are “probably true” are considered to harbor anti-Semitic attitudes.
5
Major Findings
Major Findings: Mexico
7
Anti-Semitism is rising in Mexico, manifested through economic anti-Semitism in claims of excess Jewish power in finance.
35% 24% 2014 2017
% Harboring Anti-Semitic Attitudes
“Jews have too much power in the
business world”
56% 40% 2014 2017
In contrast to many other Global 100 countries, in Mexico, greater
interaction with Jews correlates with harboring more anti-Semitic
attitudes.
8
43
38
29
0
20
40
60
Mexico
Among those who Interact with Jews Often
Among those who Interact with Jews Rarely
Among those who Never Met a Jewish Person
% Who Harbor Anti-Semitic Attitudes
STEREOTYPES
% responding “probably true” 2017 2014
Jews have too much power in the business world 56% 40%
Jews are more loyal to Israel than to this country 49% 32%
Jews have too much power in international financial markets 49% 41%
Jews don’t care about what happens to anyone but their own kind 44% 41%
Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the Holocaust 42% 31%
Jews think they are better than other people 37% 36%
Jews have too much control over global affairs 36% 31%
People hate Jews because of the way Jews behave 36% 33%
Jews have too much control over the United States Government 26% 22%
Jews have too much control over the global media 26% 17%
Jews are responsible for most of the world’s wars 21% 19%
The biggest increases in anti-Jewish stereotypes have been
on power in the business world and political loyalty.
9
In Mexico, anti-Semitic attitudes are most-prevalent among
older men.
35 34
42
34 36
0
20
40
60
Mexico Overall Men <45 Men 45+ Women <45 Women 45+
10
Mexico: % Who Harbor Anti-Semitic Attitudes
Attitudes Toward Jewish People
Proxies for Anti-Semitism
33 36
0
20
40
Mexico
Among People who arePositive
Among People who areNegative
Levels of anti-Semitism are slightly higher among people who are
pessimistic about their national or personal economic situation.
When thinking about your own personal
financial situation, would you describe it as
excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
12
30
36
0
20
40
Mexico
Among People who arePositive
Among People who areNegative
How would you describe the state of your
country's economy these days?
% Who Harbor Anti-Semitic Attitudes % Who Harbor Anti-Semitic Attitudes
People who say Israel’s actions have a major influence on their
opinion of Jews tend to harbor more anti-Semitic views.
32
19
35
0
20
40
Mexico
Major Influence Minor Influence No Influence
Boxes show % who harbor anti-Semitic attitudes among each group
Do actions taken by the state of Israel influence your opinions about Jews, or do they
not influence your opinions about Jews?
13
62 42 28
55
65
0
20
40
60
80
100
Mexico
2014 2017
Nearly two-thirds of Mexican respondents have heard about the
Holocaust. Among those who have heard, slightly more than a quarter of
those surveyed think it has been exaggerated or is a myth.
Have you heard about the Holocaust in
Europe during World War II? [% Yes]
14
2
25
0
10
20
30
40
50
Mexico
The Holocaust happened but the number ofJews who died in it has been greatlyexaggerated by history
The Holocaust is a myth and did not happen
Which of the following statements comes closest to your views about the Holocaust in Europe during World War II?
[ASKED ONLY OF RESPONDENTS WHO HAVE HEARD OF THE HOLOCAUST]
27% -- think the Holocaust was
a myth or has been
exaggerated
Violence Against Jews and Muslims
A majority believe Jews are treated well in Mexico, and very few
Mexicans say that violence against Jews happens often in their
country.
How would you describe the treatment of Jews in
your country? Showing: Excellent + Good
45
59
0 20 40 60 80 100
Mexico
2017 2014
16
8
11
0 20 40 60
Mexico
2017 2014
How often is there violence against Jews in your
country? % Very + Somewhat Often
While fewer than half of Mexicans are concerned with violence against Jews in their
country, only 27% believe their government is doing enough to protect Jews
How concerned are you about violence directed at
Jews, Jewish symbols and Jewish institutions
throughout your country? [% Very+Fairly Concerned]
48
44
0 20 40 60 80 100
Mexico
2017 2014
17
33
27
0 20 40 60
Mexico
2017 2014
Do you think your government is doing enough to ensure
the safety of its Jewish citizens, or do you think it is not
doing enough to ensure the safety of its Jewish citizens?
[% “Doing Enough”]
18
69
62
0
20
40
60
80
100
Mexico
2014 2017
How important do you think it is for the government to take a role in combatting anti-Semitism
in our country?
[% saying “IMPORTANT”]
Since 2014, there has been a slight decrease in the number of Mexicans who think it is
important for their government to take a role in combatting anti-Semitism.
44 53
0
20
40
60
80
100
Mexico
Jews: Very + Somewhat Concerned
Muslims: Very + Somewhat Concerned
There is slightly more concern with violence directed at Muslims than at
Jews, and a sense that the government is not doing enough to keep either
group safe.
19
How concerned are you about violence directed at
Jews/Muslims, Jewish/Islamic symbols and
Jewish/Islamic institutions throughout your country?
27 26
0
20
40
Mexico
Doing Enough for Jews
Doing Enough for Muslims
Do you think your government is doing
enough to ensure the safety of its
Jewish/Muslim citizens, or do you think it is
not doing enough to ensure the safety of its
Jewish/Muslim citizens?
Israel and the Palestinians
Mexicans are divided on whether violence against Jews is more
the result of anti-Israel or anti-Jewish feelings. Most don’t know.
28
22
50
0
20
40
60
80
Mexico
Anti-Israel SentimentAnti-Jewish FeelingsDon't KnowIn your opinion, is
the violence
directed against
your country’s
Jews a result of
anti-Jewish
feelings or a result
of anti-Israel
sentiment?
21
65
51
20
30
0
20
40
60
80
100
Israel 2017 Palestinian Territories 2017
Favorable Unfavorable
A majority are favorable toward Israel, and a majority are
favorable toward Palestinians, though Israel’s ratings are stronger.
ISRAEL AND THE TERRITORIES FAVORABILITY
22
18
16
0
20
40
60
80
Mexico
Major influence
Minor influence
About a third of Mexicans say that actions taken by Israel affect their
perceptions of Jews. Those who say they are influenced by Israel
generally say it gives them a worse opinion of Jews.
Do actions taken by the State of Israel influence your
opinions about Jews, or do they not influence your
opinions about Jews? [2017]
34
Red = Total Influenced
23
37
46
0
20
40
60
80
100
Mexico
Better Worse
[IF OPINION OF JEWS INFLUENCED BY
ISRAEL] Would you say that the actions Israel
takes generally give you a better opinion of
Jews or a worse opinion of Jews?
The Mexican Economic Environment
31
12
53
81
0
20
40
60
80
100
Mexico 2014 Mexico 2017
Right direction Wrong track
Mexicans have gotten more pessimistic about their country’s
direction.
In general, do you think things in your country are headed in the right direction or are they off in
the wrong track?
25
15 10
83 87
0
20
40
60
80
100
Mexico 2014 Mexico 2017
Positive Negative
Economic confidence is down in Mexico.
How would you describe the state of your country’s economy these days?
26
24 25
73 73
0
20
40
60
80
100
Mexico 2014 Mexico 2017
Positive Negative
The vast majority of Mexicans have a negative view of their
personal financial situation.
When thinking about your own personal financial situation, would you describe it as excellent,
good, not so good, or poor?
27
28
13
67
83
0
20
40
60
80
100
Mexico 2014 Mexico 2017
Stable Unstable
Over 8-in-10 Mexicans say their political situation is unstable,
with this sense increasing since 2014.
How would you describe your country’s political situation?
28
82
92 92
66 71
15
8 8
33
24
0
20
40
60
80
100
Mexico Overall Followed theU.S. election very
closely
Followed the U.S.election somewhat
closely
Followed the U.S.election not too
closely
Followed theU.S. election not
closely at all
Concerned Unconcerned
Respondents in Mexico (particularly those who followed the U.S.
election closely) are very concerned about the safety of Mexicans in
the U.S.
How concerned are you about the safety and security of Mexicans living in the United States?
29