Exposure to Anti-refugee Hate Crimes and Support for Refugees in Germany

• In Event: Policy Attitudes and Preference Formation

Abstract

In recent years, anti-refugee hate crimes have soared across Europe. In this project, we use a regression discontinuity design to explore whether exposure to those hate crimes makes people in the non-refugee population more or less supportive of refugees. Research suggests exposure to unjustified acts of violence may lead to increased solidarity with the target of that violence (refugees). Alternatively, exposure to violence may increase anxiety and reduce the likelihood of prosocial behavior, which could reduce support for refugees. However, our results suggest there is no direct effect of exposure to anti-refugee hate crimes on support for refugees. These results have several implications for our understanding of political divides over refugees in Europe.

Authors

• Eroll Kuhn, Sam Houston State University

• Rahsaan Maxwell, New York University