Influence of Middle – Eastern Refugees on Attitudes of European Societies towards Ethnic and Religious Minorities
Findings Analysis
Majority populace attitude towards the minority groups like ethnic minorities, asylum seekers, and ethnic minorities are the primary indicators of the high intolerance levels in the European society. In the weight of investigating the manifestation of Xenophobia and racism in Europe by analyzing the populace attitudes towards the minority groups and particularly immigrants from the Middle Eastern region this analysis, therefore, provides insight into a number of significant features that are linked with the European populace holding a rather negative assertiveness towards minorities.
From the study’s survey a common thing that emerged is that individuals who are socially detrimental such as individuals who recently finished part of their learning or persons living under the subjection of low incomes are most likely to express negative perception in regard to minority communities as compared to those that are stable socially (Verkuyten & Martinovic, 2012 1166). To a notable extent, the distinctions are reflected based on national or regional features of person’s countries where a state with a relatively poor economic situation and increased rate of unemployment reflects increased support levels in reference to ethnic exclusionism (Bayrakli, & Hafez, 2016 334). More differences can be established in regard to levels of education, age and the understanding of diversity and ethnic inclusion advantages to the growth of a state. In addition, the perception held by a majority is in a significant way shaped by the manner in which the media and politicians mainly refer to the Europeans minorities. Media and politicians are involved in increased support for Ethnic exclusionism stating that the groups create financial and reputational burdens to their respective states and this, in turn, shapes the majority populace attitudes towards the groups (Archick, Belkin, Blanchard, Ek & Mix, 2011 564). Provided that for a while Europe has been involved in an enlargement procedure the attitude of the public in reference to the minority populace and particularly Muslims can be monitored effectively with the use of appropriate policies that should be introduced in the effort of avoiding possible domestic hostilities and conflict.
The western region has a customized perception of minority groups and particularly those from the Middle Eastern states. This trend has generally influenced how minority groups within the states are perceived through the western eyes (Adler, 2016 1). Against the increasing, Muslims immigration increased trends in Europe attitudes which are rather negative towards the minority communities and particularly Muslims based, looms large within the political and social platforms which is demonstrated by the current opinion held by the public. Europe has for a significant period been a leading location for global immigrants. The number of individuals migrating to Europe has grown drastically in the recent few years which owes particularly to the rising Middle Eastern conflict. In particular back in the year 2015 more than one million persons applied for acquiring refugee status within EU. Most of the seekers are mainly from the Muslim societies which are Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan (Connor, 2016 1).
In reference to the conducted interviews, it is clear that European states residents generally knows immigrants from the Middle Eastern regions on a personal basis. However, the interactions amid the two are usually occurring economically or in the educational institutions in that most of them interact with other students who are Muslims or when making good purchases. The general perception is that Muslims are similar to other individuals since they are friendly and are usually engaged in communal responsibilities but they are only distinguished by cultural practices and religious standards. Despite the fact that there are positive relations between residents and the immigrants it is apparent that their perception towards them is significantly different. Their relations are rather a belief and the respondents did not have much to share in reference to their interactions. For individuals living in the United Kingdom, they state their lack of deep or positive relation with middle eastern immigrants be having been associated with the lack of good cultural interactions amid the two (Archick, Belkin, Blanchard, Ek & Mix, 2011 564).
Immigrants are perceived as normal individuals who are constrained by their cultural and religious practices which are challenges to integrating with the western culture. To the Europeans, most of these individuals are usually hardworking and actively engaged in learning, communal building as well as business but they try to seek for shortcuts of acquiring long run benefits so that they can make a better living in the western states. It is thus unfortunate that their abilities and the potential of creating positive relation are mainly hindered by their limiting religious and cultural backgrounds in reference to their ethnic communities which covers them from everyone else. The majority in states such as Italy, Poland, Greece, and Hungary holds negative attitudes in reference to minority group’s refugees and Muslims in general (Connor, 2016 1). Even for the states that holds positive views such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands and Denmark at least a significant population holds the belief that Muslims are not usually interested in integrating into the extensive society while most of them raises the concerns that minority groups increase and especially the Middle Eastern raises the chances for the occurrence of domestic terroristic attacks.
In general, younger individual’s perception differs from that of the older persons and the lower educated ones which are rather negative towards Muslims and the minority groups. Younger individuals tend to believe more on diversity rather than the alignment of cultures and religious practices. However, opinions regarding Muslims immigrants and minority groups varies from a state to another as more negative perception is accommodated in France, Italy, Roma and Hungary based on their strong and widespread assertion on Christianity as their States believe. It is estimated that per every immigrant under the Europe’s states the government spends an approximation of 40,000 dollars for their upkeep in catering for their medical, education and other social needs such as food and shelter (Adler, 2016 1). This is particularly high given the general number of persons that have occupied EU as immigrants. This creates the burden branding as the taxpayers are pressured to make an even higher contribution in response to the rising financial needs.
Based on the responses at least more than half of the population of the surveyed states stated that Muslims in their respective European states prefers being different from the larger society. In addition for most individuals who are affiliated religiously, they are usually highly skeptical in regard to the desire of Muslims to relate well with the larger society as compared to persons with no particular religious identification. The general functioning of Muslims in fresh and more westernized culture in the European states is stated to be positive despite the fact that there are some areas where most of the ethnic communities fail to integrate with the larger society (Weatherill, 2016 298). The majority of these people are usually from the Muslims communities who tends to believe that by integrating they will be destroying their religious or cultural practices. The religious influence of the Muslim communities is considered to be too strong and this leads to integration failure. Based on religious law idealism cultural integration normally fails particularly when confronted with liberal systems (Weatherill, 2016 298). To the beliefs of most individuals having too many minority communities immigrants and particularly from the Middle Eastern region presents troubles in the general attempt of proper integration. This is the case of Sweden which has particularly experienced much trouble as opposed to certain states such as Denmark that hold more restricted strategies on new national’s intake.
Most of the European state's citizen do not possess a close relation with individuals from the minority groups based in the thought that their social standards cannot integrate. Most of this individuals integrate on the necessary basis such as in schools and during purchases (Weatherill, 2016 299). Most of them affirm that it is not based on ethnic prejudice rather it is because they are minority communities and thus their spread across states is rather uneven. Generally, minority communities in this case Muslims hold a positive contribution to those that are close or those that they interact with either in educative backgrounds or on daily casual activities. Despite the fact that most individuals do not perceive them to be part of their daily existence they have not done something that impacts their wellness in a negative way thus creating neutral perceptions. Most of these individuals are hardworkers but are usually isolated from the rest by their cultural norms.
Immigrants who are the minority groups within Europe affects several economic and social areas quite substantially. In reference to the labor market competition, their influence is considerable since most of the individuals from the Middle Eastern are highly interested in entrepreneurship and while they set and run their businesses competition intensifies in the respective sector (Weatherill, 2016 300). In addition, they are usually a source of cheap labor and this usually creates more workforces for organizations at reduced costs which increase the hiring of the skilled personnel’s. However, this affects the minim wage since operating on cheap labor implies that most corporations are not usually willing to pay more for similar services and this makes the survival of the affected groups to be challenging. Most of the immigrants influence the general expenses of a state in reference to social benefits. Most of the immigrants opt to exist on the acquired benefits without trying to create better living in general. This means that the government is forced to make more spending in regard to medical care, education and so on. This therefore implies that the more the immigrants the more the expenses and this shapes the general perception held by individuals in that they believed that the presence of immigrants in their respective states only leads to more expensive life because they are forced to pay more for their taxes in order to cater to the needs of the growing immigrants population (Adler, 2016 1).
The presence of ethnic cultures affects the general ability of the state especially for the Middle Eastern immigrants who prefers to exist in radical living standards thus pulling down the efforts of the states. In addition, this results in negative relation and rising chances for domestic violence since such cultural norms in most times fails to integrate with the western culture. This, therefore, implies through such conduct individuals opinions are shaped in a rather negative manner that may trigger violence to the affected groups (Adler, 2016 1). However, diversity creates wellness in reference to the group because this is usually a great source of talents and skills which contribute to performance and productivity increase. Most of the individuals from the minority groups make both social and economic contribution in the European states that they belong to. There are a number of great artists who holds different ethnic backgrounds but their contribution in the case can never be ignored. The Middle Eastern religious practices have, however, created a form of fear to the Europeans based on their emphasis and contribution towards terror attacks. This implies that the immigrants and the minority groups, in general, are normally perceived as threats to the general wellness of the states.
It is apparent that the negative minority groups are not generally perceived based on the increasing population of immigrants rather it is usually related to public opinions. Those that holds a negative perception towards immigrants from the Middle Eastern region also holds a worrying concern of other minority groups who are usually perceived as threats (Connor, 2016 1). Most individuals believe that minority groups are offering a significant threat to the wellness of a country which stands to be a non-favorable view. In reference to the United Kingdom were the issue of immigration turned out to be a primary matter during the debate regarding the wish to exits from the European Union 80 percent of the individuals who hold undesirable views regarding Muslims stated high concern for other minority groups as well as refugees as compared to the 40 percent of the individuals with positive perception in favor of Muslims (Connor, 2016 1).
In the context of defining the particular threat that is subjected by Muslims and minority groups Europeans normally perceive the potential of the rise of domestic terrorism as well as negative effects on the economy as the most disturbing issues as compared to the occurrence of crime. Most of the surveyed individuals stated that their beliefs are that immigrants and especially Muslims will automatically rise terrorism occurrence likelihood in their respective states. The concern in reference to terrorist attacks is present in all the European states which have mainly been influenced by the occurrence of recent attacks in states such as France (Laachir, 2007 99). Generally, more than 50 percent of the Europeans are worried about the potential of the occurrence of more terrorist attacks. The populace that offers less concern for terrorism within Europe is however low as most assert that the presence of more minority groups immigrants rises the chances for more attacks since it becomes harder to evaluate security from the inside based on the created trust. This concern is especially notable for France which has experienced two major terror attacks in 2015 for which the responsibility was claimed by ISIS (RT, 2016 1).
The majority of the populace perceives Muslims and immigrant’s minority groups as financial as well as economic burdens to the states because they acquire individual’s jobs as well as social benefits that should have been utilized in developments. Roughly this opinions are agreed across the states since most states that they tend to create cheaper labor which therefore makes it hard to exist based on the high living cost that requires high spending (Laachir, 2007 99). In addition, most of the high earning individuals are denied opportunities so that companies can save while operating at low cost. However they work, skills and talents usually contribute to a state’s development thus creating a stronger economy. However, some beliefs that such economic contribution is not essential as governments tends to make more spending on them as compared to their generations. The criminal threat is much lower in the European states in reference to minority groups but in exception of Muslims. The majority of the respondents believe that minority groups or immigrants are not particularly to be blamed of terror comes as compared to groups belonging to Muslims for the rise of crime within the state. However, the prevailing claim is that immigrants are usually responsible for the occurrence of crime as compared to other groups. Across the primary concerns raised by the groups includes crime, economy, and terrorism. Most of the perception is a reference to the social as well as economic contribution where it is perceived that the groups drains States economically and fail to make any social contribution based on the lack of potential for their cultures and religion to integrate (Laachir, 2007 99).
Europeans are in fear that the recent refugee’s invasion will drive the occurrence of domestic violence acts as well as economic unrest based on the study’s survey. However, it was established that some of these fears held little when it came to the more recent attacks by terrorist such as one that occurred in France and the decision by the United Kingdom to exit from the European Union. Based on the survey it is clear that more than 8 individuals out of ten who were involved in the survey from different European states there is a belief that the increase of Europeans within the states raises the potential for more terrorist attacks. And half of the population surveyed stated that refugees are of negative influence to the economy since they usually take jobs as well as social benefits from European native residents (Wike, Stokes & Simmons, 2016 1).
Terrorism fear is mainly based on the long extending sensations towards the Middle Eastern persons as compared to the recent terrorism occurrence. In that, since the colonial period, the two culture have never held any positive relation which has been carried to the existing generation (Meer, 2014 501). There seems to be much that requires some integration apart from the differing cultures and religion. The negative attitudes toward the Muslims have been increased by the recent attacks where the offenders have claimed responsibilities and are particularly from the Muslims community. In this context, the persistent attitudes towards the Muslim community are thus driving Europeans attitudes in reference to the refugees. In that those that expresses undesirable perception towards the Muslim communities are more likely to have similar feelings towards other minority communities. Europe demonstrates an already leading sensation of distrust towards the Muslims where the respondents stated that despite the fact that they associate with the community they have neutral opinions in their regard which means that they do not trust them much. The undesirable perception is, in particular, is increased by the general rise of Muslim refugees since the Middle Eastern region is involved in conflicts in the recent (Wike, Stokes & Simmons, 2016 1).
European countries express differing levels of perception towards the minority groups which is mainly driven by education, economic as well as a social background. Younger individuals are less restrictive when it comes to national identity because they are more interested in integration as compared to the effects of immigrants on the state’s wellness. Biased politics holds a share in shaping the kinds of perception since individual from the ideological perceptions holds more expressions towards the minority groups and refugees in general but are less enthusiastic in regard to a diverse society. The general belief that having increased diversity can affect the national identity negatively is present in most of the European states a trend that has contributed to the emergence of more negative perception towards minority communities and refugees (Wike, Stokes & Simmons, 2016 1). The subjects of ethnic and national diversity possess different views since only a minor populace believes that diversity increase within states creates better countries to exist in. the majority states that diversity increase would impact states negatively by creating a conflicting surrounding. This, therefore, shows the increasing concern about the contributions of minority groups and the fear that Muslims increase would affect the stability of a state by increasing the possibility of attacks.
Refugees and the minority groups within the European states cannot be blamed for the occurrence of attacks because most may not be willing to destroy the places that offered them a much-improved life (Wike, Stokes & Simmons, 2016 1). However, the European states hold a prevailing perception that minority groups are particularly responsible for criminal activities based on their socio-economic levels. This belief may be actual to a certain degree but this does not justify that the minority communities are to be blamed more for crimes occurrences as compared to the native residents. Rime is something that should be addressed from different angles and ensuring that appropriate and effective measures are implemented.
Issues linked to Asylum and immigration both legal and illegal have been placed on political agenda by European governments in the recent stating that such issues affect their operations due to increased costs that are involved in the attempt to integrate the minority group to the larger society. The presence and the increase of immigrants have risen to be a controversial issue because the public has been made to understand that the increase presents both temporary and long run issues. The awareness growth of the issue has particularly been acquired from the historic records knowledge of states such as America which has experienced continuous and complex issues relating to inter-ethnicity (Wike, Stokes & Simmons, 2016 1). Since ethnic exclusionism holds different features there are different realities that are observed within the European region. The negative perception that has been subjected by European to the minority communities has in particular been intensified by the increase of Muslim, Islam in the region. Similarly to other traditional and cultural rooted religion, Islam is currently faced with difficulties in the attempt to evolve and be able to align with modernity to the social, economic and cultural authority in Europe.
The growth of terror groups in the Middle Eastern states has been a primary contribution factor to the rise of negative perceptions since groups such as ISIS, Al-Qaida and Hamas justify their actions using religion (Wike, Stokes & Simmons, 2016 1). Such claims create fear among natives as they generalize it to be a norm that is encouraged by religion rather than individuals believes. To top it the terror groups have engaged in several destructive attacks that have already affected a few European states thus creating tension on the general wellness of a state. The presence of the immigrants is thus treated as a prime threat to peace based on the frame created by the media and politicians that portray Middle East to be a conflicting region (RT, 2016 1). The beliefs have led to the branding of the minority communities and their ethnic practices to be dangerous which increases the gap amid Muslims and Europeans interactions.
Most of the European states have in the recent been denying immigrants entry and particularly individuals from the Middle Eastern region due to the fear that the accommodation may trigger domestic conflict and terrorist attacks. In addition, it is believed that most of the terrorists from the regions takes advantage of the generosity of the European state while getting into the target states in performing major attacks (Wike, Stokes & Simmons, 2016 1). The created fear of terror threat is mainly responsible for shaping the individual’s perception towards the immigrants in the states. In addition, Middle Eastern immigrants and minority community’s refugees are believed to be uneducated and thus this may affect the possibility of acquiring efficiency in integration based on language and knowledge barriers. Most of the European states holds that accommodating a high populace of the uneducated kind can highly affect the countries innovation due to the lack of adequate skills as well as knowledge. The uneducated perception, therefore, denies most of the individual’s opportunities to work in the hosted states and this implies that they are forced to depend on social benefits and offering cheaper labor to acquire opportunities (Connor, 2016 1).
Minority groups and Muslims immigrants in the European region are faced with communication and language barriers based on low English knowledge. This, therefore, implies that integrating with the larger community is challenging as such challenges lead to a misunderstanding which may influence the risk of conflict. The minority communities are therefore forced to distinguish themselves from the larger society to avoid such occurrence. This is interpreted as a trend particularly among Muslims who tend to cover themselves from natives (Archick, Belkin, Blanchard, Ek & Mix, 2011 564). The incapability to assimilate quickly into the western culture and language has thus led to the rise of negative perception among the native Europeans where the minority groups are classified as traditional thus affecting the general ability of the states to achieve both economic as well as social development.
Based on the recent reports immigrants from the Middle Eastern region are highly likely to exist in poor, segregated and crime prone surroundings. These are poorly dedicated socio-economic realities which differ from cultural preferences as most individuals believe. Since most of the Muslims exists in the ghetto such surrounding makes it even harder for the communities to integrate (Verkuyten & Martinovic, 2012 1166). It has therefore been established that the segregation is not created by cultural and religious preferences but for some specific reasons like cultural norms and a language barrier that makes their communication and relation with the extensive community to be poor and the self-segregation is acquired as a form of protection which is perceived to be avoidance. It is, therefore, challenging for the native Europeans to establish a concise distinction of religious and conservative practices among the minority groups.
The increased dependency on Europe’s social welfare and increased crime rate in the low socio-economic setting that is particularly occupied by the minority groups additionally contributes to the sensation by Europeans that minority group and Muslims, in general, are an issue. Most individuals from the minority communities are subjected to increased suffering based on the poor behavior that is demonstrated by Europeans (Connor, 2016 1). It has been noted that when the Muslims are highly involved in their religious as well are cultural practices they are less prone to engaging in criminal activities. However, based on the perception that the Islam religious teachings are negative this creates the perception that the European society cannot embrace such religions that destroy peace, economic as well as social wellness. The general lack of economic participation due to opportunities denial among Muslims in Europe has led to the rise of tension mainly in the recent years. For instance, it has been widely claimed that the riots that occurred in 205 within Paris were not driven by religion but they mainly involved economic opportunities and jobs (Connor, 2016 1).
Muslims within EU holds less economic opportunities as compared to other minority groups. However, the negative perception towards the Muslim communities also influences the manner in which the minor groups are perceived and this denies them significant opportunities (Verkuyten & Martinovic, 2012 1166). It can be stated that such treatments normally contributes to the negative perception that is occupied Muslims towards been integrated. In addition, tis contributes the rise of crimes since the affected individual's attempts to acquire better living through illegal means since they have fewer chances of engaging into economic developments. Muslims within EU are most likely to make their identifications on the basis of their religion rather than nationality which opposes Europe’s norms where nationality forms the grounds for all other aspects (Wike, Stokes & Simmons, 2016 1).
In summing up, based on the analysis it is apparent that Europe has developed a relatively negative perception towards the minority communities in the recent which is mainly driven by increased number of Muslims immigrants. The perception differs on the grounds of nationality, age, education, social and economic status and based on the knowledge level in reference to diversity. The negative perception has resulted in less economic chances for the minority group in general and the belief that they are more to blame for crimes. The tension of domestic terror affects the general ability of the persons to participate in economic developments and are thus forced to depend on social benefits. This leads to the view that refugees and immigrants are a major burden on states as governments are forced to spend more on them which should have been utilized in development. The negative perception has been stirred mainly by the rise of attacks which have affected states such as UK and France in the recent thus creating worry for stability.
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