'Birds of a feather'? Assessing the prevalence of anti-immigration attitudes among the far right electorate. Issue 15 (18th November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stockemer, Daniel; Halikiopoulou, Daphne; Vlandas, Tim
• Is Part Of: Journal of ethnic and migration studies. Volume 47:Issue 15(2021)
• Page Start: 3409
• Page End: 3436
• Publication Date: 2021-11-18
• Subjects: Far right -- voters -- anti-immigration attitudes -- European social Survey -- Europe; Ethnic relations -- Periodicals; Race relations -- Periodicals; Emigration and immigration -- Periodicals; Assimilation (Sociology) -- Periodicals; 305.8005
• DOI: 10.1080/1369183X.2020.1770063
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-183X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article focuses on the prevalence of anti-immigration attitudes among the far-right electorate. Drawing on the distinction between the predictive power of immigration concerns, and the question of how widespread these concerns are among the far-right voter pool, we proceed in two steps. First, we assess the extent to which anti-immigration attitudes are a necessary condition for voting far-right; and second, we examine whether far-right voters with different levels of anti-immigration attitudes exhibit similar individual and attitudinal characteristics. Using data from the 8th wave of the European Social Survey (ESS) we find that, surprisingly, anti-immigration attitudes are not a necessary condition for voting for the far-right as approximately one third of far-right voters have no concerns over immigration. We further show that far-right voters with different levels of immigration concerns have different profiles when it comes to other predictors of the far right-vote including ideological affinity, attachment to the EU and government satisfaction. Our contribution is significant as we suggest that there are different routes to voting for the far right by groups with different grievances, including non- immigration related.