Rural-urban difference in attitudes towards foreigners related policy in Slovenia

Abstract

At the end of 1980s and especially after its independence in 1991 the migration flows to Slovenia have diminished. However, since 1996 migration waves (especially illegal ones) to Slovenia have again increased significantly. Slovenia faces unfavourable demographic situation connected with the past processes of industrialisation, urbanisation and deagrarisation. Within these trends the farming population and some parts of the rural population are confronted with exceptionally unfavourable demographic and socio-economic situation as well. From this point of view the article treats the inclination of the Slovene residents towards foreigners friendly policy. Regarding different experiences with migration courses in the past and current demographic variations of urban and rural populations, the analysis of attitudes, estimations and opinions distinguishes between rural-farming, rural-non-farming and urban populations. The analysis is based on the data set form Population, Family and Welfare: Attitudes towards Policy and Measures Survey 2000. The results show considerably unfavourable attitudes of the citizens of Slovenia towards foreigners and immigrants friendly governmental policy. A negative attitude towards foreigners is in this respect especially distinctive in the rural agricultural population.