The Reasons behind Europe’s Double Standard Attitude toward Refugees from Mena and Ukraine

Abstract

In the face of the European refugee crisis in 2015 and the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Europe has shown opposite attitudes towards two types of refugees. Europe seems to be more welcoming to Ukrainian refugees than it is to some MENA refugees. This study explores the reasons behind such “double standards” through religion, language, stereotypes of MENA, and Eurocentrism. The study results show that the double standard attitude of Europe towards MENA refugees and Ukrainian refugees is mainly reflected in the reports of the news media and the policies issued for refugees. The study points out that the relatively negative attitude towards MENA refugees in Europe stems from the contradiction between Islam and Christianity, the fundamental ethnic and linguistic connection between MENA and Ukrainians and Europeans, and the social construction of European perceptions of MENA. Ultimately, Eurocentrism allowed Europe to help its countrymen, the Ukrainian refugees. This study compared the differences between MENA refugees and Ukrainian refugees, laying a foundation for future research on refugee issues. Moreover, this study advocates equal humanitarian assistance to refugees from the perspective of a community of shared futures for mankind.