Securitization of Interethnic and Interfaith Relations: West and East European Public Perceptions Compared

Abstract

This paper presents a comparative study of public perceptions of Muslim communities and immigrants in selected West, Central, and Southeast European countries based on Eurobarometer and European Values Study data over 2001 - 2015. The analysis reveals some indicators of a process of securitization of interethnic and interfaith relations. The problem is that this process affects successful diversity management policy implementation in contemporary European societies. This situation calls for the implementation of innovative public policies in response to different sources of ethnocultural diversity in present-day societies.

Keywords

• immigrants
• securitization
• multiculturalism
• diversity management