Migration has become a burning issue of the contemporary world, while immigrants are the "incarnation of outsiders". Although research shows that most Europeans support open Europe, spreading moral ...panic is one of the more frequent responses to migration. Politicians and the media, especially those on the right and the far right side of the political spectrum, try to represent immigrants as a security problem and every other kind of problem for all, even potential, recipient countries. Xenophobophilia, i.e. the political exploitation of xenophobic tendencies in the general population, is on the rise together with xenophobia, which forms a kind of social perpetuum mobile of the third kind. The public discourse often associates immigrants coming from predominantly Islamic countries with terrorism, as if they were Islamists, thus instilling the fear of mass migration from the Islamic world and of possibly devastating Islamic influence on the Christian cultural foundations of contemporary immigration societies. In this context, the question of whether traditional immigration countries as well as new or potential ones are ready and able to face the contemporary challenges of religion. In essence, the dynamics of the relationship between immigrants and the receiving society and the need for its understanding make the issue of religion, among other factors, both complex and unavoidable in migration research. This connection was mainly observed either from the perspective of the sociology of migration or the sociology of religion, which determined the focus and aspect of linking the two phenomena. Therefore, this paper first offers a brief insight into previous sociological research from both perspectives, and then tries to pose the issue of sociological research of the relationship between religion and migration with a study conducted in Croatia on a representative sample of adult citizens. An insight into theoretical and empirical research of this relationship shows that they are socially and historically determined in many facets. This is obvious in the differences in the topics that sociologists focus on and which arise from the social and historical context within which they are being explored. Contextual differences in multi-national research represent a problem for researchers, confronting them with theoretical limitations and methodological challenges.
Migration has become a burning issue of the contemporary world, while immigrants are the “incarnation of outsiders”. Although research shows that most Europeans support open Europe, spreading moral ...panic is one of the more frequent responses to migration. Politicians and the media, especially those on the right and the far right side of the political spectrum, try to represent immigrants as a security problem and every other kind of problem for all, even potential, recipient countries. Xenophobophilia, i.e. the political exploitation of xenophobic tendencies in the general population, is on the rise together with xenophobia, which forms a kind of social perpetuum mobile of the third kind. The public discourse often associates immigrants coming from predominantly Islamic countries with terrorism, as if they were Islamists, thus instilling the fear of mass migration from the Islamic world and of possibly devastating Islamic influence on the Christian cultural foundations of contemporary immigration societies. In this context, the question of whether traditional immigration countries as well as new or potential ones are ready and able to face the contemporary challenges of religion. In essence, the dynamics of the relationship between immigrants and the receiving society and the need for its understanding make the issue of religion, among other factors, both complex and unavoidable in migration research. This connection was mainly observed either from the perspective of the sociology of migration or the sociology of religion, which determined the focus and aspect of linking the two phenomena. Therefore, this paper first offers a brief insight into previous sociological research from both perspectives, and then tries to pose the issue of sociological research of the relationship between religion and migration with a study conducted in Croatia on a representative sample of adult citizens.An insight into theoretical and empirical research of this relationship shows that they are socially and historically determined in many facets. This is obvious in the differences in the topics that sociologists focus on and which arise from the social and historical context within which they are being explored. Contextual differences in multi-national research represent a problem for researchers, confronting them with theoretical limitations and methodological challenges. Problems of terminological ambiguities arise in these situations, which are further complicated by comparative research and the narrowing of theoretical and analytical focus on theories of competitive threat both on an individual and macro level. As the social and historical context in a way determines the subject and methodology of research, knowledge of it is important for the analysis and interpretation of research results. This is also observed in the research of symbolic boundaries towards immigrants and their possible transformation into social boundaries. When the relationship between symbolic and social boundaries is thought of in connection to contemporary mass migration, the symbolic boundaries are expressed in individual attitudes towards immigrants, and social boundaries can be recogvnised in the consequences of these attitudes: materialised in disorderly and poor living conditions in refugee settlements at the borders, fencing of state borders with walls and razor wire, formed in immigration policies, expressed in active resistance to the establishment of centres for asylum seekers in local communities, etc. In this context, where most of the immigrants come from predominantly Muslim countries to a predominantly Christian Europe, religion is seen as a symbolic boundary that needs to be the focus of research. Starting from this point of view, and from the fact that the importance of religion as a symbolic border, as well as other ethnic markers and cultural features, varies from society to society, Croatian society makes a good example for several reasons. Croatian society has a long history of multi-ethnicity and multi-confessionalism within multi-ethnic and multi-confessional states. In the past, ethnic differentiation primarily relied on religion as a cultural symbolic boundary, and in many respects it still does so. The transitional period and the new-found state independence were characterised by strong national homogenisation and a war at the end of the 20th century, and by joining the European Union, the population of the traditionally emigrant society was presented with the possibility of an even easier emigration, but the potential for an inflow of immigrants also increased.Croatia’s state borders became more open than ever for bi-directional population migration, which raises the question of whether the symbolic and social boundaries followed the same transformation. In addition to answering this question and given the social context in which religiousness is strongly expressed, and the arrival of immigrants is more of a possibility than a reality, the main aim of the research was to try to determine whether some of the examined dimensions of religiosity (religious self-identification, confessional self-identification and religious practice) can be considered as predictors of Croatian citizens’ attitudes toward (potential) immigrants.The empirical research using the survey method was conducted from June to September 2009 on a representative stratified sample of 1300 adult citizens of Croatia. In addition to socio-demographic characteristics of respondents and their self-estimated socio-economic status, used as independent control variables, and expressed political orientation of respondents as an additional control variable within the regression analysis, within the framework of the research from the wider survey questionnaire, the analysis uses instruments related to major independent measures, the dimensions of religiosity, instruments related to independent constructs, a measure describing the attitude of the relation between religious and national identity, and a measure describing the social distance towards religious groups, and instruments related to dependent constructs describing attitudes towards foreign (immigrant) workers.In relation to the posited research questions of whether there is a connection between the examined dimensions of religiosity (religious self-identification, confessional self-identification and religious practice) as independent variables and attitudes towards foreign (immigrant) workers, the expressed social distance and the perception of threat of immigration, as dependent variables, a connection has been determined. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) determined statistically significant differences in average social distance towards foreign workers according to all three dimensions of religiosity. Respondents who self-identified as most religious, as “convinced believers”, express a statistically significantly greater social distance towards foreign workers than the “religious”, “unsure and indifferent” and “non-religious and opposing religions” respondents. Those who never attend church express a statistically significant smaller social distance towards foreign workers than those who attend it rarely, on a monthly or weekly basis, or even more frequently. Differences in confessional identification show that those without confessional affiliation are statistically significantly less likely to express social distance towards foreign workers than those that identified confessionally, i.e. Catholics and others.Using the analysis of variance, statistically significant differences in average attitudes towards immigrant workers were determined and described by the factor construct of the sociocultural immigration threat, according to all three researched dimensions of religiosity. The results show that those who self-identified as “nonreligious and opposing religions” express a statistically significant lower degree of perceiving the sociocultural immigration threat than the “convinced believers” and “religious”. Those who never attend church perceive immigrants as less of a sociocultural threat than those who attend it rarely, on a monthly or weekly basis, or even more frequently, to a statistically significant degree. Differences in confessional identification show that those who identified as Catholics are statistically significantly more likely to view immigrants as a sociocultural threat than those without a confessional affiliation. When it comes to average attitudes towards immigrant workers described by the factor construct of the immigration socio-economic threat, analysis of variance found statistically significant differences only with respect to the religious self-identification of the respondents. The “religious” accept the views that describe this factor to a statistically significant greater extent than the “convinced believers” and the “unsure and indifferent”.Finally, a hierarchical regression analysis of predicting social distance towards foreign (immigrant) workers has been carried out in four steps (models), with respect to the examined dimensions of religiosity, with respect to attitudes towards the connection of religious and national identity, and with respect to the expressed social distance towards members of other religions (non-Catholics), and with control for socio-demographic variables (gender, age and education) and variables of self-estimated socio-economic status and political orientation of respondents.Religious self-identification within the first model (β = -0.118) proved to be a significant predictor, and the result suggests that those who identify as more religious are more inclined to express greater social distance towards foreign workers. After the inclusion of the other two religiosity indicators in the second model, religious practice and confessional self-identification, the result shows that those who identified as Catholics, unlike those who expressed that they do not belong
Migracije su postale goruće pitanje suvremenoga svijeta, a imigranti »inkarnacija autsajdera«. Sve učestalije naglašavanje njihove kulturne i pritom dominantno religijske različitosti od većinskoga ...stanovništva u zemljama primitka poticaj je za istraživanje povezanosti religije i migracija. U radu se na temelju empirijskog istraživanja stavova prema stranim radnicima u Hrvatskoj propituje postoji li povezanost između religioznosti i stavova prema imigrantima te religija kao simbolička granica prema imigrantima. U prvom dijelu rada problematizira se primarno sociološki pristup istraživanju povezanosti religije i imigracije. Potom se iznose i analiziraju rezultati istraživanja provedenoga s pomoću anketnoga upitnika na reprezentativnom uzorku od 1300 punoljetnih hrvatskih građana i građanki. Pritom se dovode u vezu dimenzije religioznosti (religijska samoidentifikacija, konfesionalna samoidentifikacija i religijska praksa), stav prema povezanosti religijskoga i nacionalnog identiteta i izražena društvena distanca prema pripadnicima drugih religija (nekatolicima), kao nezavisne varijable, s izraženim stavovima prema stranim (imigrantskim) radnicima. Pokazalo se da su sve tri istraživane dimenzije religioznosti statistički značajno povezane sa stavovima prema imigrantima, odnosno da su oni religiozniji i koji prakticiraju religiju skloniji izraziti veću društvenu distancu prema imigrantima i imigrante percipirati ponajprije kao kulturnu prijetnju. Također se pokazuje da su društvenu distancu prema imigrantima skloni izraziti oni koji imaju stav da su religijsko i nacionalno usko povezani, a osobito oni koji su skloni izraziti društvenu distancu prema pripadnicima drugih religija (nekatolicima).
Starting from the importance attached to ethnicity in contemporary Croatian society, this paper is based on research aimed at exploring the similarities and differences in attitudes regarding ethnic ...diversity expressed by two family generations in Croatia, secondary school pupils and their parents. The purpose of these attitude comparisons is to try to establish intergenerational similarities and differences, to determine their indicators and explain possible reasons for their occurrence. In the first part of the paper the authors indicate socialization aspects within the sociological theories of ethnicity and generation and outline the socio-historic context of the socialization of the studied family generations. In the central part of the paper the results of a survey conducted in 2009 are analysed on a convenience sample of secondary school pupils and their parents (N = 1902). The attitudes towards ethnic diversity and social distance towards members of selected ethnic groups (Albanians, Roma, Slovenians and Serbs) and foreign (migrant) workers are analysed. Although positive correlations in the expression of attitudes and social distance between secondary school pupils and their parents are obtained, t-test (paired samples method) resulted in some intergenerational differences. They are, among other, reflected in greater inclination among secondary school pupils towards ethnocentric attitudes, and closeness to cultural and ethnic diversity in comparison to their parents, while parents express significantly greater social distance towards Albanians, Slovenes and foreign workers compared to their secondary school children. Regression analyses conducted on each sub-sample tested the effect of socio-demographic, socio-cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of respondents as well as their value orientation on the examined attitudes and expressed social distance. Finally, it is concluded that, on one hand, the results confirmed the importance of family in the process of ethnic socialization, and, on the other, the role of great social changes, especially traumatic socio-historical events, in both shaping attitudes towards ethnic diversity and in shaping generational characteristics. / Polazeci od vaznosti koja se pridaje etnicnosti u suvremenome hrvatskom drustvu, rad se temelji na rezultatima istrazivanja kojim se ispituju slicnosti i razlike odnosa prema etnickoj razlicitosti pripadnika dviju obiteljskih generacija u Hrvatskoj, srednjoskolskih ucenika i njihovih roditelja. Svrha usporedbe njihovih stavova jest da se pokusa utvrditi medugeneracijske slicnosti i razlike, utvrditi njihove pokazatelje i objasniti moguce razloge njihova pojavljivanja. U prvom dijelu rada naznacuju se socijalizacijski aspekti unutar socioloskih teorija etnicnosti i generacija i skicira se drustveno-povijesni socijalizacijski kontekst ispitivanih obiteljskih generacija. U sredisnjem dijelu rada iznose se i analiziraju rezultati istrazivanja provedenog 2009. s pomocu anketnog upitnika na prigodnom uzorku srednjoskolskih ucenika i njihovih roditelja (N = 1902). Ispitivani su stavovi prema etnickoj razlicitosti te drustvena distanca prema pripadnicima pojedinih etnickih skupina (Albancima, Romima, Slovencima i Srbima) i stranim (migrantskim) radnicima. Iako su dobivene pozitivne korelacije u iskazivanju stavova i izrazene drustvene distance kod srednjoskolskih ucenika i njihovih roditelja, t-testom (metodom uparenih uzoraka) utvrdene su neke medugeneracijske razlike. One se, izmedu ostaloga, ocituju u vecoj priklonjenosti srednjoskolskih ucenika etnocentricnim stavovima i zatvorenosti prema kulturnoj i etnickoj razlicitosti u usporedbi s njihovim roditeljima te u tome da roditelji izrazavaju statisticki znacajno vecu drustvenu distancu prema Albancima, Slovencima i stranim radnicima od svoje srednjoskolske djece. Regresijskim analizama na svakom od poduzoraka provjeren je ucinak sociodemografskih, sociokulturnih i socioekonomskih karakteristika ispitanika te njihovih vrijednosnih orijentacija na priklonjenost ispitivanim stavovima te na izrazavanje drustvene distance. Naposljetku se zakljucuje da je s jedne strane potvrdena vaznost obitelji u procesu etnicke socijalizacije, a s druge uloga velikih drustvenih promjena, poglavito traumaticnih drustveno-povijesnih dogadaja, kako u oblikovanju stavova o etnickoj razlicitosti, tako i u oblikovanju generacijskih obiljezja.
ABSTRACT IN ENGLISH: The theme that this paper examines are minorities, or rather ethnic minorities, which are central within the framework of social phenomena and processes linked to the multiethnic ...and multicultural structure of contemporary societies. Proceeding from the assumption that clarity of concepts is a precondition for understanding and solving problems pertaining to ethnic minorities, the authors provide a critique of the definitions and differentiations of concepts from which, in concrete societies and in specific ways, the rights of ethnic minorities mainly derive. The problem is posed in the context of contemporary societies, especially the immigration societies of the European Union, and the authors note the ethnic heterogeneity of the latter and the declared general consensus on the right to difference and on the importance of this right. Comparing, on the one hand, the ethnic structures of fifteen countries of the European Union (based on census data and estimations), and on the other hand data pertaining to the legislative regulation of minority protection in these countries, the authors conclude that various forms of selective denial of equality of the right to difference are in action. Contemporary divisions distinguishing between formerly disprivileged traditional minorities that are striving towards their revitalisation, and new ethnic minorities that are being formed out of immigrant populations, open possibilities for new forms of discrimination. Therefore, the authors further conclude that an attempt should be made to make minority rights equal, also since establishing hierarchies of rights, as has been shown throughout history, may lead to frustrations with long-term consequences. // ABSTRACT IN FRENCH: Cette étude a pour object les minorités, à savoir les minorités ethniques occupant une place centrale dans le cadre des phénomènes et processes sociaux liés à la structure multiethnique et multiculturelle des sociétés contemporaines. Partant de la supposition que la clarté des concepts est une condition nécessaire à la compréhension et à la solution des problèmes liés aux minorités ethniques, les auteurs posent en problématique la définition et la distinction des concepts sur lesquels se fondent de façon spécifique les droits des minorités ethniques dans des sociétés concrètes. Le problème est situé dans le contexte des sociétés contemporaines, en particulier dans les pays d'immigration de l'UE, et concerne leur hétérogénéité ethnique, le consensus général déclaré sur le droit à la différence et l'importance de ce droit. Comparant, d'une part, la structure ethnique (donnée par les recensements et les estimations) de quinze pays de l'Union européenne et, d'autre part, les données sur la régulation juridique de la défense des minorités dans ces pays, les auteurs observent qu'on voit s'exercer diverses formes de négation sélective de l'égalité du droit à la différence. Les distinctions contemporaines qui s'établissent entre les minorités traditionnelles, parfois victimes d'injustices et s'efforçant de se revitaliser, et les nouvelles minorités ethniques, qui se constituent à partir de la population immigrée, ouvrent la porte à de nouvelles formes de discrimination. Les auteurs concluent donc qu'il serait bon d'essayer de niveler les droits des minorités, entre autres parce que la hiérarchisation des droits, ainsi qu'en témoigne l'histoire, peut conduire à des frustrations lourdes de conséquences. Reprinted by permission of the Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Zagreb
Pandemic Management Systems and Migration Gregurović, Margareta; Gregurović, Snježana; Kumpes, Josip ...
Migracijske i etničke teme,
12/2020, Letnik:
36, Številka:
2/3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Brzi razvoj i širenje bolesti koja predstavlja zdravstvenu prijetnju većem udjelu stanovništva imaju učinak na funkcioniranje gotovo svih društvenih sustava, kako unutar tako i izvan granica ...nacionalne države, utječući stoga i na mogućnosti slobodnoga kretanja i migracija. Glavni je cilj ovog rada raspraviti osnovne mehanizme kontrole bolesti u odnosu na migracije u različitim društveno-povijesnim kontekstima. Pritom se identificiraju i uspoređuju povijesni obrasci i suvremene mjere sustava preventivne kontrole, uzimajući u obzir širi društveni kontekst i specifični položaj migranata. U ovome se radu kombiniraju povijesni uvidi u različite upravljačke i političke sustave u Europi i Hrvatskoj koji su tražili odgovarajuće mjere za sprečavanje širenja zaraznih bolesti sa stanjem u borbi protiv pandemije bolesti COVID-19. Regulacijom i upravljanjem aktualnom pandemijom bolesti COVID-19 uvedena su ograničenja prekograničnoga kretanja i putovanja. Ta ograničenja i uvođenje karantenskih mjera naglo su zaustavili ne samo međunarodnu već i migraciju unutar granica nacionalnih država, posebno tijekom prvog vala pandemije u proljeće 2020. Stoga je naglasak stavljen na učinke pandemije bolesti COVID-19 na radne i prisilne migracije, ali i na učinak mehanizama upravljanja pandemijom na razvoj stavova javnosti prema imigrantima.
Sustavi upravljanja pandemijom i migracije Gregurović, Margareta; Gregurović, Snježana; Kumpes, Josip ...
Migracijske i etničke teme,
12/2020, Letnik:
36, Številka:
2-3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Brzi razvoj i širenje bolesti koja predstavlja zdravstvenu prijetnju većem udjelu stanovništva imaju učinak na funkcioniranje gotovo svih društvenih sustava, kako unutar tako i izvan granica ...nacionalne države, utječući stoga i na mogućnosti slobodnoga kretanja i migracija. Glavni je cilj ovog rada raspraviti osnovne mehanizme kontrole bolesti u odnosu na migracije u različitim društveno-povijesnim kontekstima. Pritom se identificiraju i uspoređuju povijesni obrasci i suvremene mjere sustava preventivne kontrole, uzimajući u obzir širi društveni kontekst i specifični položaj migranata. U ovome se radu kombiniraju povijesni uvidi u različite upravljačke i političke sustave u Europi i Hrvatskoj koji su tražili odgovarajuće mjere za sprečavanje širenja zaraznih bolesti sa stanjem u borbi protiv pandemije bolesti COVID-19. Regulacijom i upravljanjem aktualnom pandemijom bolesti COVID-19 uvedena su ograničenja prekograničnoga kretanja i putovanja. Ta ograničenja i uvođenje karantenskih mjera naglo su zaustavili ne samo međunarodnu već i migraciju unutar granica nacionalnih država, posebno tijekom prvog vala pandemije u proljeće 2020. Stoga je naglasak stavljen na učinke pandemije bolesti COVID-19 na radne i prisilne migracije, ali i na učinak mehanizama upravljanja pandemijom na razvoj stavova javnosti prema imigrantima.
Pandemic Management Systems and Migration Gregurović, Margareta; Gregurović, Snježana; Kumpes, Josip ...
Migracijske i etničke teme,
2020, 2020-00-00, Letnik:
36, Številka:
2-3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Fast development and transmission of disease poses a health threat for a larger population and affects the functioning of almost all social systems, both within and outside nation-state borders, thus ...also affecting the possibilities of free migration and movement. The main aim of this article is to discuss the principal mechanisms of disease control in relation to migration in various socio-historical contexts. It identifies and compares historical patterns and contemporary measures of preventive control systems while considering the wider social context and migrants’ specific position. This paper combines the historical insights into various administrative and political systems in Europe and Croatia that have sought adequate measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases with the current state of the affair in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the regulation and management of the contemporary COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions have been introduced on cross-border movement and travel. Those restrictions and quarantine measures have abruptly halted not only international but also migration within the borders of nation-states, especially during the first wave of the pandemic in spring 2020. Emphasis has been placed on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on labour and forced migration, as well as on the trends in public attitudes on immigrants affected by pandemic management mechanisms.
Starting from the importance attached to ethnicity in contemporary Croatian society, this paper is based on research aimed at exploring the similarities and differences in attitudes regarding ethnic ...diversity expressed by two family generations in Croatia, secondary school pupils and their parents. The purpose of these attitude comparisons is to try to establish intergenerational similarities and differences, to determine their indicators and explain possible reasons for their occurrence. In the first part of the paper the authors indicate socialization aspects within the sociological theories of ethnicity and generation and outline the sociohistoric context of the socialization of the studied family generations. In the central part of the paper the results of a survey conducted in 2009 are analysed on a convenience sample of secondary school pupils and their parents (N = 1902). The attitudes towards ethnic diversity and social distance towards members of selected ethnic groups (Albanians, Roma, Slovenians and Serbs) and foreign (migrant) workers are analysed. Although positive correlations in the expression of attitudes and social distance between secondary school pupils and their parents are obtained, t-test (paired samples method) resulted in some intergenerational differences. They are, among other, reflected in greater inclination among secondary school pupils towards ethnocentric attitudes, and closeness to cultural and ethnic diversity in comparison to their parents, while parents express significantly greater social distance towards Albanians, Slovenes and foreign workers compared to their secondary school children. Regression analyses conducted on each sub-sample tested the effect of socio-demographic, socio-cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of respondents as well as their value orientation on the examined attitudes and expressed social distance. Finally, it is concluded that, on one hand, the results confirmed the importance of family in the process of ethnic socialization, and, on the other, the role of great social changes, especially traumatic socio-historical events, in both shaping attitudes towards ethnic diversity and in shaping generational characteristics.
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