Abstract
This text is an article written by three scholars about the rise of anti-foreign sentiment in European Societies (especially 12 countries). Their analysis is based on both theories and the compilation of data, in order to understand why some places are more likely to be concerned with the rise of this sentiment. In the introduction, the authors explain that there are two main bodies of research in sociology about the attitudes towards foreigners and ethnic minorities.
The first one assumes that the individuals who are more vulnerable are more likely to discriminate against minorities because they feel threatened. The second body focuses on structural cross-variations, in order to show that the discriminatory process is the result of both individual and structural level variables. This article aims at examining the changing dynamic relations between both the size of ethnic minorities and economic conditions, and the rise of anti-foreigner sentiment in Europe. Political mechanisms are also taken into consideration in their analysis.
In their opinion, prejudice can be seen as a defensive reaction toward threats and challenges.
They are particularly interested in the ‘competitive threat' model in explaining negative attitudes toward foreigners. This model is based on the assumption that there is a competition between groups over power, rewards and collective identity. If we focus on the individual-level, we can argue that this attitude is the result of self-interest aspirations. At the group level, these attitudes are the effects of threats to the identity of the majority (especially national).
