Cyprus is among the ten most xenophobic countries that took part in the European Social Survey (ESS) for 2022, out of 31 in total, a press release by the University of Cyprus Center for Field Studies (UCFS) says.
It adds that the results highlight the role of the state in the establishment of a National Plan for the Integration of immigrants.
Asked whether people of the same ethnic origin as the majority of the island’s inhabitants should be allowed to immigrate to Cyprus, 58% of the participants in the survey agreed to a lesser or greater extent. However, according to UCFS, this majority agreement turned into refusal when the question referred to people either of different origins or from poorer non-European countries. A percentage of 65% disagree to a lesser or greater extent with the immigration of people of different ethnicity, a percentage that reaches 66% when it comes to people from poorer countries outside of Europe.
“The above ‘contrast’ between the attitudes towards the immigration of people of
the same and different ethnic origin indicates the existence of strong xenophobic attitudes in Cyprus: on the one hand, there is a mild agreement towards the immigration of people of the same ethnicity as that of the majority of the island’s inhabitants. On the other hand, however, for people who would be characterized as ‘foreign’ (different nationality), the agreement turns into a refusal”, it says.
It notes that with this attitude, Cyprus is among the 10 most xenophobic countries that took part in the ESS (out of 31 in total), adding that the majority of Greek Cypriot residents seem to differ significantly from the general stance in Europe, as in Cyprus there are more negative attitudes than in Europe on average.
Moreover, 44% of participants said they believe to a lesser or greater degree that immigration is bad for the economy. Similarly, 49% believe that it also harms the cultural life of Cyprus.
The majority of participants (48%) state that with the arrival of people from other countries, Cyprus bec
omes a worse place to live, according to UCFS.
“The above responses reveal the prevalence of a feeling of threat, namely, realistic and symbolic threat,” it states.
Source: Cyprus News Agency