Policies and Prejudice: Integration Policies Moderate the Link Between Diversity and Xenophobia

Is higher immigrant presence related to higher or lower xenophobia? Conflict theories propose that high immigrant presence and more inclusive integration policies (more equal rights and access to services) would make natives feel that their societal position is threatened. Thereby a combination of high immigrant presence and inclusive policies should predict highest xenophobia. In contrast, other strands of research suggest that exposure to immigrants and encounters with immigrants would reduce xenophobia especially when policies grant more equality and immigrants are in a more equal societal position. We test these competing predictions by looking at the interplay between immigrant presence and integration policies across a broad range of countries, regions and institutions. In Studies 1, 2 and 3 we investigate national integration policies predicting different measures of xenophobia across countries within and outside the EU. We focus on perceptions of economic threat in Study 1 (N=28.161, k=20) and on social distance from immigrants in Study 2 (N=15.533, k=12) and Study 3 (N=46.036, k=35). In Study 4, we examine Swiss cantonal integration policies predicting economic threat perceptions (N=982, k=26). In Study 5, we test school policies predicting anti-immigrant attitudes in Flanders-Belgium (N=1472, k=64). We consistently find that higher levels of immigrant presence predict high xenophobia only when integration policies are exclusive. When policies are inclusive, higher immigrant presence is related to reduced xenophobia. The results imply that high immigrant presence does not preclude social cohesion when policies grant equal rights to immigrants.