Xenophobia before and after the Paris 2015 Attacks. Evidence from a Natural Experiment

Abstract

Abstract:In light of ongoing debates that discuss the link between Muslim migration and terrorist attacks in various European cities, this paper investigates how attitudes toward (Muslim) immigrants have been affected by these attacks. We draw on a German student survey conducted immediately before and after the attacks in Paris in November 2015. The experimental vignette design allows us to further differentiate between attitudes toward Syrian migrants from different religious backgrounds. We show that the attitudes towards immigration held by students who identify with conservative parties became more negative after the attacks. Immigrants' religion also plays an important role depending on whether the issue in question is a social or political one. The attitudes of liberal students are hardly affected. This paper goes beyond existing studies that only measure attitudes in the aftermath of such attacks and focuses on attitudes regarding policy responses to terrorist attacks or attitudes towards immigrants in general. We show that such attacks do not lead to negative attitudes in general; they mostly do so for people who attach great importance to issues of national security. We also see that people differentiate between various migrant groups.

In‐group solidarity or out‐group hostility in response to terrorism in France? Evidence from a regression discontinuity design

“…Recent upsurges in Islamic terrorism sparked increasing concerns regarding the presence of Muslims and perceived threat of Islam in France (Urbatsch 2019; Jungkunz et al. 2019). Echebarria‐Echabe and Fernández‐Guede (2006) find that the 2004 Madrid bombing fostered general sentiments of intolerance and prejudice towards out‐groups (particularly Arabs and Jews).…”

“…To date, studies on public responses to terrorism across Europe remain less common and often topical in their contributions, with scholars primarily focusing on electoral implications (Balcells & Torrats‐Espinosa 2018; Bali 2007; Bali & Park 2014; Kibris 2011), policy positions (Bozzoli & Müller 2011; Economou & Kollias 2019) and, more specifically, out‐group perceptions (Castanho Silva 2018; Echebarria‐Echabe & Fernández‐Guede 2006; Jungkunz et al. 2019; Ferrín et al. 2019).…”

A Threat to the Occident? Comparing Human Values of Muslim Immigrants, Christian, and Non-religious Natives in Western Europe

“…However, another driver of such views are concerns about religious fundamentalism (Helbling and Traunmüller, 2018). Tensions between Muslim and non-Muslim Europeans erupt in sad regularity, leading to violence against Muslims (Borell, 2015) as well as Islamist terror attacks in Europe (Jungkunz et al, 2018;Schmidt-Catran and Czymara, 2020). Knowing and understanding differences in values of Muslims and non-Muslims in Europe, hence, is crucial for peaceful coexistence.…”

“…While Frenchmen are indeed most likely to reject the religious headscarf (Helbling, 2014), public opinion toward Muslim immigrants does not seem to be particularly negative, relatively to other countries in Europe (Strabac and Listhaug, 2008;Savelkoul et al, 2012;Helbling, 2014;Czymara, 2019). In recent years, several Islamist terror attacks of Islamists shocked France (see, for example, Jungkunz et al, 2018;Vasilopoulos et al, 2018). On the one hand, France's long history of diversity may have caused a convergence of values between Muslim immigrants, Christian and non-religious natives.…”

Multiple categorization and intergroup bias: Examining the generalizability of three theories of intergroup relations.

“…Only one study, to the best of our knowledge, tested the effect of intergroup conflict on attitudes towards multiply categorized targets. In a cross-sectional study, authors measured German students' political affiliation and attitudes towards Syrian immigrants before and after the Paris 2015 terrorist attacks (Jungkunz et al, 2019). The immigrants' religious affiliation (Christian vs. Muslim) and religiosity were manipulated.…”