Contemporary Immigration Policy Orientations Among Dominant‐Group Members in Western Europe

Abstract

Predictors of immigration policy attitudes were investigated among members of receiving societies in large national probability samples in 15 Western European countries. We found that a considerable proportion of the variation in immigration policy orientations toward outgroups could be explained by self‐ and group interests and independent measures of perceived threat. Self‐reported racism also contributed independently and significantly to these policy positions. It was concluded that a general framework of proximal self‐ and group‐position indicators (Allport, 1954), perceived threat, and prejudice/racism was useful in predicting the immigrant policy orientations of dominant members of receiving societies across Western Europe. The meaning of these findings for future research on immigration policy orientations across, and especially within, European countries is discussed.