Unveiling Subtle (Negative) Attitudes Towards Immigration in Spain in the Post-COVID Era: Challenges for Policymakers

Abstract

El estudio analiza los cambios en las actitudes de la población española hacia la inmigración tras la pandemia de COVID-19. A partir de una encuesta realizada en junio de 2021, se desarrolla un índice sintético denominado Global Immigration Tolerance Index (GITI), que integra variables relacionadas con racismo simbólico, prejuicio manifiesto y prejuicio sutil. Los resultados muestran que la sociedad española mantiene niveles elevados de tolerancia hacia los inmigrantes, con una media de 72,3 en el índice. No obstante, se identifican actitudes negativas asociadas a determinados perfiles sociodemográficos, como ideologías conservadoras, menor nivel educativo y escaso contacto con inmigrantes. El estudio destaca la persistencia de formas sutiles de discriminación y la necesidad de políticas públicas más ambiciosas para abordarlas.This study investigates possible changes in Spanish attitudes towards immigrants following the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, a specialised survey was conducted in June 2021, from which the Global Immigration Tolerance Index (GITI) was developed. This composite index, integrating 29 variables in nine factors across three dimensions—symbolic racism, manifest prejudice, and subtle prejudice—measures tolerance levels towards immigration. Our analysis incorporates factor and multiple correspondence analyses to examine the association between GITI scores and demographic characteristics, alongside attitude changes during and after the pandemic. The findings indicate stability in positive attitudes towards immigrants, with the GITI mean at 72.3, suggesting a high degree of societal tolerance. Resistance to immigration mainly correlates with right-wing political ideologies, Catholicism, lower education levels, unstable employment, and limited interaction with immigrants. Nonetheless, a surprising trend of somewhat intolerant views was observed among the centre-left ideologies. This study extends the understanding of socio-political dynamics affecting immigration attitudes, highlighting that despite the pandemic’s impact, the overall perception of immigrants remains predominantly positive. However, the research underscores the necessity for bolder policy approaches to address the latent ambivalence of attitudes towards immigration in contemporary Spain.