1. Views of Greeks on Migration
An Ongoing Debate
T. Bakker, V.Tsiligiri & A. Gkiouleka

2. Current situation
• Fourth year of economic crisis.
• Golden Dawn in the parliament after the
elections of 2012 (7%).
• Rise of racist attacks.
• Law 3838/10 judged as unconstitutional from
the High Court.
• Xenios Zeus operation.

3. Expectations
• Racist feelings among Athenian population.
• More negative attitudes among Athenians
living in areas with high immigrants’
segregation.
• High level of perceived threat and difference
between women and men.

4. Methodology
• Observation in various areas of Athens.
• Interviews: semi-structured, open questions,
attention to threatening questions.
• Documentation of general discussions that
came to attention during the winter course.

5. Map

6. Observations
Remarkably decreased number of migrants in
the city center.

7. National identity is salient in the streets
(flags, slogans, commercial labels).

8. Graffiti: A symbolic “battle” on the
walls
FOREIGNERS OUTSIDE GREECE AI SIHTIR

9. NATIONAL FRONT
NATIONALISM
THE MORE THEY
STEAL OUR LIFE, THE
MORE THEY FEED US
WITH NATION AND
RACE

10. WE BECAME IMMIGRANTS IN OUR
NEIGHBOURHOOD
OUR GRANDPARENTS REFUGEES
OUR PARENTS IMMIGRANTS
WE RACISTS???

11. FOREIGNERS OUTSIDE
BEAT THE FASCISTS, DARLING

13. 21 Interviews
Respondents’ characteristics
Gender: 14 women / 7 men
Age range:
• 18-30: 9 respondents
• 31-50: 7 respondents
• 51 and older: 5 respondents
Employment Status:
• 4 pensioners
• 7 university students
• 1 unemployed
• 9 employed (shop owners, private sector employees, street
merchant)

14. General Findings
• Economic crisis and immigration strongly
connected in the public discourse.
• Concern about the large number of
immigrants.
• Criminality associated with economic crisis
and strongly linked with immigrants.
• Immigrants mostly visible in the labor market.

15. Respondents with negative attitudes
• Most negative attitudes expressed in the areas with
large numbers of immigrants.
• Certain ethnic groups are more stigmatized (Pakistani,
Afghan, Bangladeshi, Iraqi)
• Perceived threat expressed mostly by women (physical
violence associated mostly with men, less with
immigrants).
• Imputation of disrespect for human life to migrants.
• Denial of being racist.
• Lack of inter-group relationships.

16. Respondents with positive attitudes
• Racism is a diachronic phenomenon.
• Personal threat from Golden Dawn.
• Fear of being portrayed as racists.
• Personal relationships with migrants.
• Immigrants seen as the scapegoats of the
economic and social crisis.

17. Impressions from the respondents’
behaviour
• Differences in willingness to talk.
• Hot topic, taken very seriously.
• No hesitation of mentioning extreme negative
thoughts.
• Distinction mentioned between the notion of
“foreigner” and “immigrant”.

18. Conclusions & Suggestions
• Immigration is considered as a phenomenon to
be handled seriously.
• The situation is perceived in contradicting ways
among people.
• Further research for deeper understanding
should take place on a larger scale (time &
sample).
• Focus also should be given to the influence of
dominant public discourse (mass & social media),
political orientation and contacts with migrants.