Growing distrust to immigrants in Europe and rising right-wing populism – Poland and Germany compared

• Authors: Müller Hans-Peter , Leszkowicz-Baczyński Jerzy
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The aim of this paper is to describe reactions to the refugees crisis in 2015, which occurred in most European countries. On the one hand there was a growth of hostile attitudes toward immigrants coming from North Africa and Islamic countries and on the other hand the growth of right-wing populism. In part I theoretical claims referring to trust, immigration, and populism are presented. It is argued that trust as a type of the social capital relations is an essential “glue” for the existence and development of social systems. Moreover, feelings of similarity and dissimilarity are crucial for social cohesiveness. Part II encompasses conclusions from empirical research on attitudes and social beliefs in Poland and Germany and their comparison. It is argued, that the situation in both countries is different in many respects, but one can see a similarity as well, mainly a growing fear of and hostility against immigrants which are a comprehensible social fact, but also a result of populist right-wing agitation.

Keywords

EN

trust; right-wing populism; refugee crisis in Europe; attitudes toward refugees

• Publisher: Instytut Zachodni. Instytut Naukowo-Badawczy im. Zygmunta Wojciechowskiego w Poznaniu
• Journal: Przegląd Zachodni
• Year: 2017
• Issue: 4(365)
• Pages: 145-168

Contributors

author

Müller Hans-Peter

• Uniwersytet Zielonogórski; Free University of Berlin

author

Leszkowicz-Baczyński Jerzy

• Wydział Pedagogiki, Psychologii i i Socjologii, Uniwersytet Zielonogórski