European attitudes toward specific types of asylum seekers have remained steady, according to recent research from Stanford University. The study pinpoints characteristics of refugees that are more likely to be viewed positively, indicating why Ukrainians displaced by the 2022 Russian invasion found a warm welcome. These insights could aid policymakers in responding to challenges in the asylum system.
In the last ten years, the Syrian refugee crisis of 2015-2016 and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine have led to a significant influx of asylum seekers in Europe. However, the impact of such recurring humanitarian crises on public perceptions of refugees has been uncertain. While some believed that growing numbers of refugees might diminish public support, the positive reception of Ukrainian refugees challenges this notion.
To fathom public sentiments toward refugees, researchers conducted comparative experiments during the 2015-2016 and 2022 refugee crises. They enlisted approximately 33,000 citizens from 15 European nations to evaluate randomly varied profiles of asylum seekers, surveying about 18,000 and 15,000 people in 2016 and 2022, respectively.
Preferred traits
The surveys unveiled traits that Europeans prefer in refugees, including being female, Christian, and young (around 21 years old). Additionally, the circumstances of displacement played a role: refugees fleeing from conflict were more favorably regarded than those relocating for economic reasons.
The study finds that these public preferences have remained consistent, and if anything, have slightly increased over time. It also demonstrates that Ukrainians received a positive response in 2022 due to their demographic and displacement characteristics. Importantly, this positive reception did not come at the expense of other marginalized refugee groups. This suggests that support for all refugees remains generous, particularly during moments of crisis.
The study’s limitation lies in its data collection at only two points in the past decade, potentially missing fluctuations in public opinions between those periods. Nevertheless, the authors conclude that the consistency observed in both study periods indicates stable preferences.
