Determinants of Attitudes towards Immigration: Testing the Influence of Interculturalism, Group Threat Theory and National Contexts in Time of Crisis
| Date | 01 April 2017 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/imig.12261 |
| Published date | 01 April 2017 |
| Author | Livia García‐Faroldi |
Determinants of Attitudes towards
Immigration: Testing the Influence of
Interculturalism, Group Threat Theory and
National Contexts in Time of Crisis
Livia Garc
ıa-Faroldi*
ABSTRACT
Since 2008 a profound crisis, not only economic but also political, has been affecting the EU.
The Eurobarometers carried out by the European Commision show an increased percentage of
people who see their country as not having benefitted from being an EU member. In addition, the
presence of extreme-right parties has grown recently in several democracies. These parties adopt
not only an anti-European but also an anti-immigrant stance. It is precisely the growing strength
and visibility of this link between anti-Europeanism and anti-immigration in ideological positions
that has prompted our research. Using data from the Eurobarometer 71.3 (2009) for eleven coun-
tries, we confirm a correlation between intercultural dialogue –measured using a proxy variable:
European identification –and tolerance. Results also corroborate group threat theory. However,
the best model takes into account national contexts. These findings show the relevance of study-
ing national historical and cultural traditions to understand how prejudices develop.
INTRODUCTION
Since 2008, the EU has endured a profound crisis that is not only economic but also political. The
Eurobarometers developed by the European Commission
1
show that the percentage of people who
believe their country has not benefitted from being an EU member has increased and the image of
the EU has been eroded.
In addition, the presence of extreme-right parties has grown recently in severalEuropean democracies.
The economic crisis is testingthe degree of trust and solidarity shown among Europeans. Both elements
are crucial to defining a “senseofcommunity”(Deutsch, 1957). The econom ic crisis has highlighted
that the EU is far from being a political community, one in which citizens take care of each other. Fur-
thermore, the current refugee crisis has heightened political tensions among Member States. According
to the European Network of Ombudpersons for Children (ENOC), based on Eurostat data, the number
of asylum applicants doubled last year (ENOC, 2016).In Germany, the refugee crisis has led to increas-
ing public support forthe Alternative for Germany (AfD), an anti-immigrant right-wing party.
Recently emerged extreme-right political parties have in common the fact that they are not only
anti-European but also position themselves ideologically against the immigrants who have settled
in their countries. Although it is not easy to compare these parties (Fennema, 1997), all have immi-
gration as one of the main topics on their political agendas.
* University of M
alaga
doi: 10.1111/imig.12261
©2017 The Author
International Migration ©2017 IOM
International Migration Vol. 55 (2) 2017
ISS N 00 20-7 985 Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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