Predispositions to discriminatory immigration policies in western Europe: an exploration of political causes

Abstract

We analyze citizens' predispositions concerning policies of immigrant selection and models of immigrant accommodation as observed by the 2002-3 European Social Survey. We focus on some of the EU's major countries, namely: Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, which were chosen because of their different experiences as migration destinations, as well as for the relevance of their immigration policy models and welfare states. On this basis, we compare citizens' attitudinal inclinations with the policies actually being implemented, and propose interpretations concerning the degree of consistency between both levels. Firstly, we consider attitudes and policies in respect of the discrimination faced by immigrants according to their country of origin and/or economic resources. Secondly, we analyze the attitudes and policies with regard to assimilationist and multicultural integration models. Finally, we examine the recognition of certain rights to migrants.