Mehr Sonne als Schatten. Das Griechenlandbild der Deutschen und die Asymmetrie der Wahrnehmungen
More Sun than Shadow: German Perceptions of Greece and the Asymmetry of Perceptions

Summary/Abstract: This article analyses mutual perceptions in German-Greek relations based on a representative survey conducted in Germany (2025), complemented by survey data from Greece (2022, 2024), with a particular focus on the image of Greece among the German public. The findings show that Greece is perceived predominantly positively in Germany: roughly two-thirds of respondents express a favourable view of the country. This perception is shaped primarily by tourism-related experiences, cultural associations, and personal contacts, while political conflicts, economic crises, or historical grievances play only a minor role. At the same time, a comparison with survey data from Greece reveals a pronounced asymmetry in perceptions. While Germans tend to evaluate Greece mainly through individual experiences, perceptions of Germany in Greece are more strongly shaped by political considerations. These views are influenced in particular by the memory of the German occupation of Greece during World War II, Berlin’s role during Greece’s financial crisis, and Germany’s positioning in Greek-Turkish tensions – therefore, largely negative. Despite a noticeable improvement in Greeks’ perceptions of Germany since 2022, an asymmetry in perceptions persist.

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