It’s tempting to think that anti-immigration sentiment is predominantly felt among lower paid workers who fear that their livelihoods might be undermined by the new arrivals, but new research from the University of Queensland suggests that harsh attitudes towards immigrants aren’t just present among the lower income levels, but also among wealthier segments of society.

“Affluent people who fear losing wealth in the short or long term experience collective angst about their group’s future vitality and wealth status,” the researchers explain.  “Our research found this fuels negative attitudes toward immigrants and minorities. Even though wealthy people may have a lot, their fear of falling is associated with opposition to immigration.”

The research is important, as a dominant theory behind the rise of right-wing populism is that the financial crisis of 2008 prompted many to rail against migrants due to their own hardship.

“Experts had long believed that economic downturns triggered perceptions of relative deprivation and chances of civil conflict. Moreover, economic crises, so the argument typically goes, increase fear and frustration among poor working-class voters,” the researchers explain. “These dynamics are typically referenced when discussing Trump’s victory in the 2016 US presidential elections, and the success of populist parties like One Nation in Australia. The assumption that economic crises combined with individual relative deprivation provide fertile soil for populism, dominate many of the discussions on the origins of right-wing populism and anti-immigrant sentiments more generally.”

Wealthy opposition

The research highlighted the potential for these populist parties to also garner considerable support among wealthier parts of society.  The researchers argue that wealthy people feel they have a lot to lose, and this fear translates into concern about the future.

Across four studies, the researchers were able to find a clear association between opposition to immigration and a general fear of losing wealth, be that as individuals or a collective.

“In the laboratory, when we made people feel wealthy they were more opposed to immigration when they were made to feel that they might lose some of their wealth in the future than the group who felt their wealth was secure,” the researchers say.

The researchers found that when people were made to fear for either their own future or that of Australia more generally, this tended to result in greater opposition towards immigration.  It’s a finding that the researchers hope will allow policymakers to better understand why populist, anti-immigrant parties are enduringly popular, even among the wealthiest in society.

“This is important at a time when populist parties and leaders with strong anti-immigrant stances are a force to be reckoned with in many countries,” they conclude.