The Effects of Migrant Residential Patterns on Anti-Migrant Political Action by Natives in the Welfare State: The Cases of Finland and Sweden Examined at the Sub-National Level

Why are levels of anti-migrant political action higher in some advanced democracies than in others? I examine the effects of residential distribution of migrants (immigrants and refugees) among natives on the level of anti-migrant political action taken by natives, in two similar welfare states at the sub-national level – Finland and Sweden. Drawing on the “halo effect” of group conflict theory, I posit that, where migrant settlement is more evenly dispersed across communities, anti-migrant political action will be less likely to occur. Conversely, where migrants are more segregated from but in proximity to the native population, such action will be more likely. I construct and quantitatively analyze a dataset of direct anti-migrant events (e.g., protests, rallies, violence) over the past decade. This analysis complements my previous findings on anti-migrant party voteshare outcomes: settlement patterns of migrants do seem to play a significant role in driving native political action against migrants.