Economic Crisis and Anti-Immigrant Sentiment: The Case of Andalusia

Abstract

This paper provides three interrelated reasons not to confound
perceptions of economic group-threat with hostility toward people of
foreign origin. Firstly, I argue that expansive notions of prejudice impede
analyzing attitudes toward immigration and immigrants with sufficient
precision. Secondly, the recent evolution in the Southern Spanish region
of Andalusia illustrates divergent trajectories: anti-immigrant sentiment
remained subdued despite surging unemployment and perceived
conflict-of-interest. Thirdly, various factors are found to contain antiimmigrant
sentiment amidst inauspicious economic circumstances and
regardless of perceived group-competition. The study shows that
attitudes towards immigrants hinge on a complex array of predispositions
and perceptions, rather than economic facts and interests per se.