Germans Once Returned from Holidays Feeling Superior. Now They See Their Country in Decline

Germans once returned from holidays with a sense of reassurance: whatever they had seen abroad, life at home seemed to work better. That confidence, and the feeling of civilizational superiority that came with it, is now fading.

German media say the change has become increasingly visible in recent years. The country is no longer viewed with the same satisfaction as before, as doubts about its condition replace the old certainty.

A psychologist warns that this altered perception of Germany could have consequences beyond national self-confidence. In his view, the loss of faith in the country may also become dangerous for German democracy.