Illiberal Norms, Media Reporting, and Bureaucratic Discrimination: Evidence from State-Citizen Interactions in Germany

Recent research on the rise of radical right-wing parties highlights the activation of deeply rooted illiberal norms in society, including hostility toward marginalized groups. Negative media reporting on immigration may reinforce this trend. Although previous studies have examined the effect of far-right normalization on voting, little is known about its broader societal impacts. Therefore, we ask how regional variation in anti-immigrant sentiments interacts with negative reporting to shape the behavior of street-level bureaucrats. Our theory posits that street-level bureaucrats are more likely to engage in discrimination if they work in areas with widespread anti-immigrant sentiments; a pattern that can be amplified by negative news on immigrants. To test our expectations, we conducted a preregistered survey experiment with 1400 German welfare caseworkers. Our findings reveal that regional norms significantly affect the likelihood of discrimination, especially after exposure to negative media frames. These results raise concerns about the impartiality of state institutions amidst rising illiberal norms.