Welcome or insulted? A comparative study of reactions to refugees in Germany

Due to the growing number of refugees German municipalities and Länder are faced with considerable challenges – both financially as well as politically. Several cities and municipalities are confronted with resistance when planning new accomodations – in several cases accompanied by prejudices and violent aggressions that are fuelled by right-wing groups. In other cases, however, new accomodations for refugees are welcomed and supported by the local community. How do these different reactions come about? Which factors facilitate support, which opposition? Comparative research on this question is rare.  

The project compares reactions to accommodations for asylum seekers across Germany in order to determine the factors that shape opposition and support. The analysis’ point of departure is that socio-structural factors such as education and income cannot explain the different reactions sufficiently. The analysis focusses instead on the local dynamics of public opinion formation. In particular, the role of local political and civil society groups as well as responsible authorities will be considered in this dynamic – based on the findings of a preparatory study conducted in 2014/2015. 

As the project leader was appointed to Bielefeld University in 2018, research is further conducted at Bielefeld University.