Xenophobia towards asylum seekers: A survey of social theories

Abstract

In recent decades, there has been a global rise in fear and hostility towards asylum seekers. Xenophobia – or ‘fear of the stranger’ – has become a pressing issue in a range of disciplines. Several causal models have been proposed to explain this fear and the hostility it produces. However, disciplinary boundaries have limited productive dialogue between these approaches. This article draws connections between four of the main theories that have been advanced in the existing literature: (1) false belief accounts, (2) xenophobia as new racism, (3) sociobiological explanations and (4) xenophobia as an effect of capitalist globalisation. While this article cannot provide an exhaustive review of theories of xenophobia, it aims to present a useful comparative introduction to current research into the social aspects of xenophobia, particularly as these theories have been applied to asylum seekers. In bringing together divergent models, it also invites interdisciplinary engagement.

Göçmenlerin Ötekileştirilmesinde Kolektif Bir Duygu Olarak Zenofobi

“…Bunlardan ilki iç/dış grup davranışları bağlamında ele alırken, diğeri ise zenofobinin sosyal inşasına ve etkilerine odaklanır. Peterie ve Neil (2020), teorik araştırmalarda zenofobinin dört şekilde ele alındığını belirtirler. Buna göre, zenofobi; yanlış inançlar ve yeni bir ırkçılık olarak, sosyobiyolojik açıklamalar temelinde ve kapitalist küreselleşmenin bir etkisi olarak ele alınmıştır.…”

How one gesture curbed ethnic discrimination

“…They reflect the human tendency to divide the world into ingroups (‘us') and outgroups (‘them'), but the construction of such ‘difference’ requires symbols or markers that allow ingroups to be distinguished from outgroups. Some of the most prominent cleavages responsible for discrimination in contemporary Western societies relate to ethnic and racial groups and anti‐immigrant sentiments (Hewstone & Swart, 2011; Kaufmann & Goodwin, 2018; Peterie & Neil, 2020).…”

Examining The Levels Of Zenophobia And Global Social Responsibility Of Health Sciences Students: A Cross-Sectional Study İn The Case Of Konya

“…There are many theories in the literature about xenophobia and its causes, which have many psychological, social, cultural, and political aspects (Peterie & Neil, 2020). According to Bauman (2013), residents may perceive the later arrivals as a threat to their lifestyles and cultures.…”