Abstract:
This article examines public opinion on immigration in 28 European countries. Using data from the European Social Survey (2003-2011), we assess whether the current polarizing and populist political discourse on immigration is reflected in the attitudes of European citizens. The analysis shows that public opinion on immigration in Europe is predominately neutral. Moreover, European citizens have not adopted a more negative view on immigration. Attitudes about both the policy and the impact of immigration remained stable between 2003 and 2011. Some countries even moved towards a more tolerant attitude. No European country, however, reports a growing intolerance towards the arrival of migrants in the past decade. The prevailing view that the tougher political stance on immigration reflects changed attitudes of European citizens must therefore be reconsidered.
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