| Abstract: | Analyzed Canadian surveys between 1975 and 1995 (N?=?7,222) to evaluate the opposition to immigration. Contrary to the symbolic racism hypothesis, opposition to immigration was highly correlated with the unemployment rate, while a more traditional intolerance measure showed relative immunity to economic conditions. The most prejudiced groups were not the strongest immigration opponents (e.g., older respondents were the most intolerant but younger respondents were the most opposed to immigration). A 1989 survey suggests several factors determine support for immigration and that concerns vary logically in their impact (e.g., unemployment concerns matter most to unemployed Canadians and least to retirees, and crime concerns matter more to urban than rural residents). Comparing unemployed to other respondents suggests that becoming unemployed will foster the belief that immigrants take jobs from other Canadians, as well as increase this issue's importance as a determinant of the attitude toward the level of immigration. Overall, the results suggest that opposition to immigration is not simply racism in disguise but a complex attitude resulting from an interplay between various concerns and moderating beliefs about immigration's consequences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
