Attitudes towards Immigration

Support for Immigration Policies

Europeans would accept more asylum-seekers under a system that more fairly shared responsibility across countries—even if it brought greater numbers into their own communities.

Publication: external pageEuropeans Support a Proportional Allocation of Asylum Seekers

Resources: DownloadResearch Brief (PDF, 2.3 MB)

Media coverage: external pageThe Stanford Daily (English), external pageThe Guardian (English), external pageTagesanzeiger (German)

Attitudes towards Ethnic Minorities

European support for asylum seekers remained remarkably stable across the Syrian (2015–16) and Ukrainian (2022) refugee protection crises.

Publication: external pageEuropeans’ support for refugees of varying background is stable over time

Resources: DownloadResearch Brief (PDF, 2.6 MB)

Media coverage: external pageBlick (German)

Country of origin determined naturalization success more than any other applicant characteristic, including language skills, integration status, and economic credentials.

Publication: external pageWho Gets a Swiss Passport: A Natural Experiment in Immigrant Discrimination

Media Coverage: external pageChicago Tribune

The European public prefers asylum-seekers who are employable, credible, have strong claims to refugee protection, and are non-Muslim.

Publication: external pageHow Economic, Humanitarian, and Religious Concerns Shape Europeans Attitudes toward Asylum Seekers

Media coverage: external pageBloomberg Business, external pageWashington Post, external pageIl Post (Italian), external pageDie Presse (German), external pageLa Vanguardia (Spanish), external pageLe Scienze (Italian), external pageABC Nyheter (Norwegian), external pageFiveThirtyEight

In comparison to other immigrants, young men receive far less public support and are more likely to be seen as cultural and security threats.

Publication: external pagePublic Attitudes toward Young Immigrant Men