Does more education automatically lead to more open attitudes towards immigration?
Education is often seen as a key to fostering inclusive attitudes toward immigration and strengthening social cohesion in diverse societies. But can education alone deliver on this promise? New research by Dr. Lenka Dražanová (EUI, Florence) puts it to the test. In our latest MIDEM Policy Paper, Dr. Dražanová examines two decades of data from the European Social Survey (2002–2022), covering 27 countries. Her analysis reveals that the effect of education is far from uniform. Whether education translates into more welcoming views depends strongly on individual psychological predispositions, levels of economic insecurity, and the surrounding social and political environment.
