Abstract
Among a national sample of Dutch respondents (N = 1,155), this study examined whether the belief configuration of personal political orientation differs for individual level of education, and how it is related to negative attitudes toward immigrant-origin groups and refugee policies. In agreement with the ideological sophistication perspective, the endorsement of social conformity and the acceptance of group-based inequality were found to be more strongly part of the political orientation of higher compared to the lower educated participants. Furthermore, the endorsement of social conformity and acceptance of group-based inequality were associated with more negative feelings toward immigrants and more negative attitudes toward policies in relation to refugees. These findings add to the existing literature that has predominantly examined education and political orientation as two independent correlates of anti-immigrant and refugee attitudes.
Highlights
Immigration has become an enduring feature of many societies in the world, with large migration flows to various countries
Our results showed that stronger right-wing political orientation was associated with more negative van der Heijden & Verkuyten attitudes and that the endorsement of social conformity and acceptance of inequality were partly responsible for these associations
The present study examines the predictions that a stronger endorsement of social conformity and acceptance of group-based inequality are both associated with less positive attitudes toward immigrants and refugee policies (H1), and, more importantly, that these two ideological beliefs are more strongly part of the political orientation of higher compared to lower educated people (H2)
Summary
Immigration has become an enduring feature of many societies in the world, with large migration flows to various countries The arrival of these newcomers is socially and politically contentious and public attitudes towards immigrants and refugees have become major societal issues. The endorsement of social conformity and the acceptance of inequality are considered two core ideological aspects of people’s political orientation These aspects can explain why people on the politically right are generally less positive towards immigrants and refugee policies. The two core ideological aspects might be more strongly part of the political orientation of higher than the lower educated individuals The former would have a more well-understood and sophisticated set of political attitudes than the latter. The reason for this would be that the endorsement of social conformity and the acceptance of inequality are more strongly defining aspects of the political orientation of the former than the latter group
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