Thirty years of welfare chauvinism research: Findings and challenges

Abstract

The term ‘welfare chauvinism’ has achieved a certain currency in social science research and is used widely. Yet, the concept is not without its critics, who claim that welfare chauvinism is ‘loaded’ or ‘ambiguous’. This article reviews empirical studies of welfare chauvinism, from the 1990s to the present day, drawing primarily from party politics and attitudes research. We identify differences in how the concept is used, defined, operationalized and measured. We emphasize the importance of a unified language, operationalization and measurement, and identify promising directions for future research.

The bond that binds or drives us apart? An empirical test of the national identity argument in three countries

“…In addition, whether ethnic minorities should receive social assistance to maintain their customs and traditions was asked in all three countries in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Lastly, the BSAS 2013 includes the most typical questions for capturing welfare chauvinism: two items asked after how long EU or non-EU migrants should receive welfare benefits (Careja and Harris, 2021). Yet, these two items were only asked for a small sub-sample (approx.…”

“…The last estimates test the relationship between national identity and welfare chauvinism focussing on a question that was only asked in the 2013 BSAS to a smaller sub-sample of respondents. This measure comes closest to the welfare chauvinism measure used by Johnston et al (2017) as it asks respondents when immigrants from EU (non-EU countries) should receive equal access to welfare benefits (Careja and Harris, 2021).…”

Kicking down on the ladder of deservingness: has welfare reform led to welfare chauvinism?

“…Welfare chauvinism, which is another register of preferences on welfare access, has received increasing attention in the recent years. Research on the factors of welfare chauvinist attitudes has regarded exposure to economic risk, ethnic competition, and ideological factors (Careja/Harris 2022. Welfare state regimes have been treated as a factor of welfare chauvinist attitudes, however only in national-level comparisons of differences between welfare regimes; i.e.…”

Successful Public Policy in the Nordic Countries

“…Also, the long-term growth in immigration in the Nordic countries has fuelled welfare-chauvinist policies that negatively target migrants and thus break with the ideal of the universal welfare state (cf. Careja and Harris 2022).…”