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
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.
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.
5
Major Findings
Major Findings: Mexico
Anti-Semitism is rising in Mexico, manifested through economic antiSemitism in claims of excess Jewish power in finance.
% Harboring Anti-Semitic Attitudes
2014
24%
2017
35%
“Jews have too much power in the
business world”
2014
40%
2017
56%
7
In contrast to many other Global 100 countries, in Mexico, greater
interaction with Jews correlates with harboring more anti-Semitic
attitudes.
% Who Harbor Anti-Semitic Attitudes
60
Among those who Interact with Jews Often
Among those who Interact with Jews Rarely
Among those who Never Met a Jewish Person
40
43
38
29
20
0
Mexico
8
The biggest increases in anti-Jewish stereotypes have been
on power in the business world and political loyalty.
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%
9
In Mexico, anti-Semitic attitudes are most-prevalent among
older men.
Mexico: % Who Harbor Anti-Semitic Attitudes
60
40
42
35
34
Mexico Overall
Men <45
34
36
20
0
Men 45+
Women <45
Women 45+
10
Attitudes Toward Jewish People
Proxies for Anti-Semitism
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?
40
Among People who are
Positive
Among People who are
Negative
40
Among People who are
Positive
Among People who are
Negative
36
33
36
30
20
0
How would you describe the state of your
country's economy these days?
20
Mexico
% Who Harbor Anti-Semitic Attitudes
0
Mexico
% Who Harbor Anti-Semitic Attitudes
12
People who say Israel’s actions have a major influence on their
opinion of Jews tend to harbor more anti-Semitic views.
40
Do actions taken by the state of Israel influence your opinions about Jews, or do they
not influence your opinions about Jews?
Major Influence
Minor Influence
No Influence
35
32
20
19
0
Mexico
62
42
28
Boxes show % who harbor anti-Semitic attitudes among each group
13
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.
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]
Have you heard about the Holocaust in
Europe during World War II? [% Yes]
100
2014
2017
50
80
40
65
60
30
55
The Holocaust happened but the number of
Jews who died in it has been greatly
exaggerated by history
The Holocaust is a myth and did not happen
27% -- think the Holocaust was
a myth or has been
exaggerated
25
40
20
20
10
0
0
Mexico
2
Mexico
14
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
2017
How often is there violence against Jews in your
country? % Very + Somewhat Often
2017
2014
2014
11
59
Mexico
Mexico
8
45
0
20
40
60
80
100
0
20
40
60
16
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]
2017
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”]
2014
2017
44
2014
27
Mexico
Mexico
48
0
20
40
33
60
80
100
0
20
40
60
17
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.
How important do you think it is for the government to take a role in combatting anti-Semitism
in our country?
[% saying “IMPORTANT”]
100
2014
2017
80
60
69
62
40
20
0
Mexico
18
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.
How concerned are you about violence directed at
Jews/Muslims, Jewish/Islamic symbols and
Jewish/Islamic institutions throughout your country?
100
80
40
Doing Enough for Jews
Doing Enough for Muslims
Jews: Very + Somewhat Concerned
Muslims: Very + Somewhat Concerned
27
60
40
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?
53
26
20
44
20
0
Mexico
0
Mexico
19
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.
80
In your opinion, is
the violence
directed against
your country’s
Jews a result of
anti-Jewish
feelings or a result
of anti-Israel
sentiment?
Anti-Israel Sentiment
Anti-Jewish Feelings
Don't Know
60
50
40
20
28
22
0
Mexico
21
A majority are favorable toward Israel, and a majority are
favorable toward Palestinians, though Israel’s ratings are stronger.
ISRAEL AND THE TERRITORIES FAVORABILITY
100
Favorable
Unfavorable
80
60
65
51
40
30
20
20
0
Israel 2017
Palestinian Territories 2017
22
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.
80
Do actions taken by the State of Israel influence your
opinions about Jews, or do they not influence your
opinions about Jews? [2017]
100
Major influence
Minor influence
[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?
Better
Worse
80
60
Red = Total Influenced
60
40
34
16
37
20
18
0
46
40
Mexico
20
0
Mexico
23
The Mexican Economic Environment
Mexicans have gotten more pessimistic about their country’s
direction.
100
In general, do you think things in your country are headed in the right direction or are they off in
the wrong track?
Right direction
80
Wrong track
81
60
53
40
31
20
12
0
Mexico 2014
Mexico 2017
25
Economic confidence is down in Mexico.
How would you describe the state of your country’s economy these days?
100
Positive
80
Negative
87
83
60
40
20
15
0
10
Mexico 2014
Mexico 2017
26
The vast majority of Mexicans have a negative view of their
personal financial situation.
100
When thinking about your own personal financial situation, would you describe it as excellent,
good, not so good, or poor?
Positive
80
Negative
73
73
60
40
20
0
25
24
Mexico 2014
Mexico 2017
27
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?
100
Stable
Unstable
80
83
67
60
40
20
28
13
0
Mexico 2014
Mexico 2017
28
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?
Concerned
100
92
80
Unconcerned
92
82
71
66
60
40
33
20
24
15
8
0
Mexico Overall
Followed the
U.S. election very
closely
8
Followed the U.S.
election somewhat
closely
Followed the U.S.
election not too
closely
Followed the
U.S. election not
closely at all
29