Welcome or insulted? A comparative study of reactions to asylum seekers' accomodations

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Priska Daphi
• Subject Area: Empirical Social Research
• Term: from 2015 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 278608516

The growing number of applications for asylum confront German municipalities and Länder with considerable challenges - both financially as well as politically. Several cities and municipalities face resistance when planning new accomodations - in some cases accompanied by prejudices and violent aggressions that are fuelled by right-wing groups. In other cases, however, new accomodations for asylum seekers are welcomed and supported by the local community. It is unclear how these different reactions come about. Both studies on migration and asylum policies in Germany have largely failed to address this issue so far. The project compares reactions to accommodations for asylum seekers across Germany in order to determine the factors that shape opposition and support. The analysis' point of departure is that socio-structural factors such as education and income cannot explain the different reactions sufficiently. The analysis focusses instead on the local dynamics of public opinion formation. In particular, the role of local political and civil society groups as well as responsible authorities will be considered in this dynamic - based on the findings of a preparatory study conducted in 2014. The working hypothesis that guides this analysis is: positive reactions are enhanced a) if local authorities are transparent, supportive, and allow locals to participate in decisions; and b) if an active local infrastructure of left groups and supportive initiatives is present. To examine this, the project undertakes a structured-focused comparison of 10 accommodations implemented between 2011 and 2014 to which local communities reacted differently (largely positive or negative). The cases are similar with regards to the size of the accommodation and the income of the community; differ however with respect to the conduct of local authorities and the infrastructure of political and civil society groups. The case studies base on a combination of expert interviews, focus groups, and document as well as press analysis. The project provides crucial insights into the local reactions to asylum seekers' accommodations and the formation of public opinion about the issue of asylum more generally. In this vein, the project not only closes a central gap in research, but also contributes to the public discussion about asylum policy.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants