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Amaral E F L et al.

Figure 4. Percentage of Europeans who agreed with specific statements, 2016
Source: Pew Research Center, Global Attitudes Survey, Spring, 2016

3.3. Perceptions toward immigrants
According to the Global Attitudes Survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, multiple countries in the EU seem
to believe that the presence of refugees could increase terrorism and take jobs and social benefits away from residents.
For instance, in Greece and Italy, most respondents said that their countries would be worse places to live if there was
an increasing number of people from different races, ethnic groups, and nationalities [Figure 4]. In Germany and the
United Kingdom, this question was also captured by the level of education. Among those with secondary education or
below, 39 and 37% agreed with this assessment, respectively. Among those with postsecondary education or above, these
numbers were lower (27 and 17%, respectively). Most respondents in Germany, Greece, Italy, and the United Kingdom
agreed with the statement that refugees would increase the likelihood of terrorism in their respective countries [Figure 4].
A considerable percentage of the population in the EU, especially in Greece and Italy, wanted less immigration and had
negative sentiments toward immigrants (Poushter, 2015). Greeks and Italians were more likely to say immigrants would
generate the negative effects to the society because they take jobs and social benefits away from the native population.
Italy has faced major integration issues in regard to refugees and migrants. According to doctors without borders, the
reception system of migrants and refugees in Italy is extremely slow and has been highly criticized (MSF, 2016).
People in Germany were more likely to say immigrants make their country stronger because of their hard work and
talent (Poushter, 2016). In the United Kingdom, reports suggest that the population broadly welcomed Syrian refugees
(Gower and Cromarty, 2016). This sentiment might be linked to the pace and scale of migration that increased by double
(nearly four million) between 1991 and 2011, which might have created a better attitude of acceptance toward immigrants
in the United Kingdom (MWUK, 2016.
Canada has had a significant experience with welcoming refugees from Southeast Asia, Uganda, Hungary,
Czechoslovakia, and Chile since the 1950s. Canadians have raised approximately 110 million dollars to help refugees
through private sponsorship (Ditchburn, 2016). In 1986, Canada was awarded the Nansen medal by the UNHCR in
recognition of its major and sustained contribution to the cause of refugees.
Australia ranks as one of the top three resettlement countries in the world (Karlsen, 2016). A study on social cohesion
indicated positive public attitudes toward immigration: 68% of Australians agreed that immigrants made the country
stronger (Power, 2010). Political leadership had an important role in shaping national opinion regarding immigrants and
refugees. A 2015 poll indicated that 57% of Australians believed that the country should increase the number of Syrian
refugees (Taylor, 2015). Moreover, 54% thought that the government response to the Syrian crisis was poor. However,
public opinion of Australians toward refugees seemed to be divided. For instance, the 2014 Lowy Institute Poll sought to
test the idea that all asylum seekers should be processed onshore whether or not they came by boat (a policy that seems to
favor a larger number of refugees). This poll indicated that 47% agreed and 51% disagreed that all asylum seekers should
be processed in Australia whether or not they came by boat (Oliver, 2014).

30 International Journal of Population Studies | 2018, Volume 4, Issue 1