Outside the Western bubble: Explaining anti-immigrant attitudes in 28 post-communist countries

Abstract

Most studies on anti-immigrant attitudes have been conducted within the US or in Western European countries. As a result, the theoretical frameworks utilised to comprehend these attitudes are often based on a limited subset of the global population. Hence, it remains uncertain how these theories apply to regions beyond the Western context. Based on the Life in Transition Survey, we explore whether the theories and factors discussed in Western contexts can be applied to understanding anti-immigrant attitudes in 28 post-communist countries. We find that the impact of macroeconomic variables in the post-communist region differs from what would be expected based on existing theoretical frameworks. The study adds complexity to the debates surrounding the positive impacts of modernisation, economic development and democratisation on anti-immigrant attitudes. Our research suggests that intolerance levels are notably highest in Central and Eastern European EU countries. Interestingly, these levels are higher than those found in less developed and less democratic post-communist countries outside the EU. This study highlights the difficulty of deploying a comprehensive theoretical framework that can account for the complexities of attitudes across a broad range of countries.