The latest Eurobarometer 2025 said it plainly: “In no other European country, the population is quite as pessimistic concerning labour market developments and the economic situation in Europe as in Austria.” This is exacerbated by scepticism towards migration and a decline in trust regarding the politicians’ problem-solving competencies. There are hardly any social groups in Austria that do not see these issues in a largely negative light. The Europe-wide study “Die Abwertung der Anderen” (Zick/Küpper/Hövermann 2011) shows that the Europe-wide spreading and increase of “group-focused enmity” is exactly in line with this sentiment. “Group-focused enmity” refers to depreciating attitudes and prejudices against groups that are defined as ‘different’, ‘foreign’, or ‘unnormal’. These are closely related to fundamental attitudes that rely on law and order, discipline, social Darwinism, and a rejection of diversity.

“Foreigners are people like you and I” – the frequently voiced but usually vain attempt of Social Workers to respond to clients whose world view and self-explanation patterns are derived from elements of group-focused enmity. In most cases, their claims are not only wrong and in need of correction, but rather central elements of their identity that give them orientation, a feeling of belonging, a recognition. The professional approach to such world views ends in silence and thus taboo. The problem is not a lack of fundamental competencies on the experts’ part, but a lack of knowledge regarding how to deal with people whose identity is based on group-focused enmity.