A recent article by Vera Messing and Bence Ságvári explains the motives behind anti-migrant sentiment and attitudes. The article, published on the website of Social Europe, states that contrary to common expectations, anti-migration sentiment is more present in countries hosting a small number of migrants. Additionally, the article aims to highlight the presence of a shift in the way migration is portrayed in populist narratives.
According to certain theories, one’s perception of control lies at the basis of a positive or negative perception of the immigration phenomenon. Thus, one is more likely to think of immigrants and the immigration phenomenon as less threatening if he or she is capable of taking responsibility for events and happenings affecting their own lives. Furthermore, he or she will be more likely to perceive migrants as agents capable of reinventing themselves and integrating into local society, and therefore welcome them with a positive attitude.
The analysis, conducted on the basis of data provided by a study carried out by the European Social Survey, shows that the presence of an anti-migrant sentiment is not related to a high or low percentage of migrants living in one country.
The study has shown that those who do hold negative perceptions on immigration are people who lack trust in themselves, in one another and/or in governmental institutions. To quote Messing and Ságvári, ‘they have financial difficulties, are alienated from politics, lack trust and hold security-focused, individualistic values’.
On the other hand, citizens of countries in which there is trust in the government and its institutions are more likely to accept migrants and view them as contributors to their society.
The study concludes that, overall, based on the data obtained from the ESS survey, Europeans are likely to find both positive and negative aspects connected to the migration phenomenon. However, it does seem that after 2015, attitudes towards migration have become more positive; anti-migrant sentiment dropped from 15% in 2014 to 10% in 2016/2017.