Immigration as a Perceived Threat to National Identity: An Austrian Case Study
Immigration as a Perceived Threat to National Identity: An Austrian Case Study

Summary/Abstract: This article is the case study of one nation, Austria, reacting to the challenges of the globalized world, specifically immigration. To determine how Austrians perceive immigration, data from the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) in 1995 and 2004 were compared. The investigated hypothesis assumed that the increased immigration resulting from EU integration and globalization would lead to increased xenophobia as Austrians attempt to defend their national identity. The crosstabulation analysis of ISSP data revealed that Austrians became more hostile toward immigration between 1995 and 2004. The events between 1995 and 2004 indicate that this increase in anti-immigration sentiment is likely due to both political campaigns targeting Austrians already uneasy about immigration and insecurity arising from increased immigration.

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