MIDEM Study
Polarization in Europe: A Comparative Analysis of Ten European Countries
Maik Herold, Janine Joachim, Cyrill Otteni, Hans Vorländer
04/27/2023
There is growing concern in Europe about widening divides between people with opposing political opinions. Many worry polarization has become one of the greatest threats to democracy and social cohesion. The Mercator Forum Migration and Democracy (MIDEM), in collaboration with YouGov, has taken a new approach to measuring polarization in ten EU member states, including the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and Sweden. The survey-based study combines different methods for measuring affective polarization and focuses on the concept of affinity or dislike between groups defined by political issues rather than party lines. Through a survey of approximately 20,000 people, MIDEM identified issues on which European societies exhibit higher levels of polarization, with migration being a particularly contentious issue. The study is intended to provide insights into the extent of polarization in Europe and to initiate a debate on its consequences for European democracies and the EU.
MIDEM Policy Brief
Giorgia Meloni and Italian migration policy
Giovanni de Ghantuz Cubbe
20.03.2023
Giorgia Meloni has been Italy's prime minister since October 2022. Her victory was accompanied by the worst fears. Nothing less than a change of course in migration policy was expected. But how radical has it turned out?
For the first time since the founding of the Italian Republic, the office of government is in the hands of a post-fascist party. During the election campaign, Meloni mobilized her electorate with strident anti-migration and anti-EU rhetoric. But what course will she pursue in migration policy five months after taking office? Will she stick to her radical anti-immigration position and is she ready to take on the EU?
In the latest policy brief, "Giorgia Meloni and Migration Policy", Giovanni de Ghantuz Cubbe examines Giorgia Meloni's political background and her migration policy. His Policy Brief provides a concise overview of key issues in Italian migration policy.
MIDEM Annual Study 2022
Europe and Refugee Migration from Ukraine
02/16/2023
The fate of Ukrainian refugees has preoccupied the German and European public for months. Especially for Central and Eastern European countries, the care and reception of several million refugees since the beginning of the war has been an enormous test. What can be learned from the treatment of refugees in Germany and the Visegrád countries? Where are the biggest challenges in integrating refugees? In the MIDEM Annual Study 2022, the authors look at how European societies deal with the reception of refugees in times of war and rising energy and living costs. The MIDEM Annual Study 2022 Europe and Refugee Migration from Ukraine looks back on the experiences of the last months and takes stock.
MIDEM Annual Study 2022
Europe and the refugee migration from Ukraine
(German)
12/05/2022
The fate of Ukrainian refugees has concerned the German and European public for months. Especially for Central and Eastern European countries, the support and welcome of several million refugees since the beginning of the war is an enormous test of endurance. What can be learned from the approach to refugees in Germany and the Visegrád countries? Where are the biggest challenges in integrating refugees? In the MIDEM Annual Study 2022, the authors look at how European societies deal with the reception of refugees in times of war and rising energy and living costs. For this purpose, population attitudes towards the war in Ukraine and the reception of refugees were surveyed in 10 European countries, in cooperation with the polling institute YouGov. The MIDEM Annual Study 2022 Europe and Refugee Migration from Ukraine looks back on the experiences of the last months and takes stock.
MIDEM Policy Brief
The 2022 Italian Parliamentary Elections
(German)
Giovanni de Ghantuz Cubbe
09/20/2022
In a few days Italy will elect its new parliament. Even if the election will probably not be decided by the migration issue - the topic is present.
Since the foundation of the Italian Republic, no government has managed to last a full legislative term. An unstable party system and a divided society ensure an explosive mixture. The right-wing populists have traditionally focused on migration-related issues. There is a good chance that the center-right alliance will win the election. Observers already see Giorgia Meloni as the new prime minister. After the election, the issue of migration will quickly become important again. Then, a right-wing government would not only have consequences for refugee and migration policy, Italy's relations with the European Union will also become more difficult. In Forum MIDEM's new policy brief The 2022 Italian Parliamentary Elections, Giovanni de Ghantuz Cubbe provides an overview of the dominant campaign issues and analyzes the parties' migration policy positions.
MIDEM Policy Brief
The Republic of Moldova and refugee migration from Ukraine
(German)
Jana Stöxen
07/14/2022
With the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, more than 500,000 people have crossed the border between Ukraine and Moldova so far. Beyond the big headlines, Moldova has thus taken in an extraordinary number of refugees relative to its population size. But slowly, the great solidarity and willingness to help is slowly fading into increasing skepticism and concern about its own stability. To this end, Moldova was recognized as an EU accession candidate at the end of June, which could endanger the fragile demographic balance of the Romanian-speaking majority and the Russian-speaking minority. Last but not least, Transnistria, a breakaway part of the country allied with Russia, increases the risk of social division in the country. Is the frozen conflict in the east of the country threatening to erupt again? And how is the country coping with the high number of refugees? The Policy Brief provides an initial overview of developments in refugee reception and integration in Moldova to date. For this purpose, data from the Moldovan authorities as well as relevant surveys and media were analyzed.
MIDEM Policy Brief
Hungary and Refugee Migration from Ukraine
(German)
Jenna Althoff
06/09/2022
In contrast to 2015, the countries of the Visegrád Group are characterized by a high willingness to accept refugees from Ukraine. However, the unity seems to be coming to an end. Hungary claims special national interests and has repeatedly held up the process around EU sanctions. Orbán not only blocks the transport of weapons across Hungarian territory to Ukraine, but also claims to continue sourcing oil and gas from Russia. Is the Hungarian special path only about secure the position of power, or about securing its own position of power? Was the attitude of solidarity with the Visegrád states merely a tactical calculation in the run-up to the parliamentary elections? And what are the attitudes of the citizens in Hungary? The Policy Brief Hungary and Refugee Migration from Ukraine provides an overview of developments in refugee reception and integration in Hungary to date. For this purpose, data from the Hungarian authorities as well as relevant surveys and media were analyzed.
MIDEM Annual Study 2021
COVID-19 and Right-Wing Populism
05/10/2022
Times of crisis are the hour of the populists. Thus, right-wing populist parties were able to strengthen their unique selling point even during the pandemic. This is the conclusion of the MIDEM 2021 Annual Study COVID-19 and Right-Wing Populism conducted by the Mercator Forum Migration and Democracy (MIDEM). Through an analysis of the official Facebook pages of right-wing populist parties in Europe, this study shows that COVID-19 is an important mobilization issue and is used to tap into populist voter strata. While right-wing populists do not usually address the issue of COVID-19 more frequently than other parties, the way they communicate in relation to the topic clearly stands out from that of other parties. For example, government measures to combat the pandemic have become the backdrop for the projection of polemically and emotionally charged criticism of the government. Right-wing populist parties that are in government are an exception: During the pandemic, they were primarily concerned with depoliticizing the COVID-19 issue. The MIDEM Annual Study 2021 provides insights and background analysis on the social media communication of right-wing populist parties in seven European countries .
MIDEM Policy Brief
French Presidential Elections 2022: Migration in Political Discourse
Dr. Mariana S. Mendes
04/06/2022
April 10, 2022 is the day of presidential elections in France. Polls show, that the incumbent Macron is leading, but the right-wing populist Marine Le Pen has recently caught up. Migration had been a dominant theme of the election campaign over a long period. Traditionally occupied by Le Pen and the Rassemblement National, the issue was fueled by far-right candidate Éric Zemmour, who drew attention to himself during the campaign with conspiracy thinking and Islamophobia. The conservative candidate Valérie Pécresse also tried to score points with the migration issue. The left is fragmented. What are Jean-Luc Mélenchon's ideas? What are the positions of the incumbent Macron? The current policy brief French Presidential Elections 2022: Migration in Political Discourse provides an outlook on the French presidential elections. The study offers a compact overview of migration policy positions and sheds light on the background of the migration debate in the French election campaign.
MIDEM Policy Brief
Refugee Migration from Ukraine to Poland
(German)
Marta Kozłowska
04/04/2022
Since the Russian army invaded Ukraine, more than 4 million people have fled the country, over half of them (2.45 million) went to Poland. Second by second refugees crossed the Polish border - and were welcomed there. However in 2015, the Polish government categorically refused to accept refugees from non-EU countries. Now it grants all war refugees from the neighboring country residence for up to 18 months and access to the labor market, health care system and social benefits. How did this development come about? Can Poland really build the necessary integration structures in the short term? Will the hitherto very great solidarity of the Polish population hold? How will the labor market react to this enormous influx? The policy brief "Refugee Migration from Ukraine to Poland" provides a first overview of previous developments in refugee reception and the current challenges in Poland. For this purpose, data from the Polish authorities as well as relevant surveys and media were analyzed.
MIDEM Country Report
Hungary
(German)
Jenna Althoff
03/30/2022
On April 3, 2022, Hungary will elect a new parliament. The political fate of Viktor Orbán is not the only issue at stake. The election is also a decision on the direction of the country's future development. This concerns not only Hungary's foreign policy orientation, but also the question of whether the country will continue to maintain its illiberal and autocratic course. Especially on the issues of asylum and refugee policy, Hungary has become a pioneer of an uncompromising course of closure over the past 12 years. Is the increasingly strict refugee policy the result of a deliberate politicization of the migration issue? Are there deeper causes instead, for example in social attitudes toward migration? Is a turnaround in Hungary's refugee policy emerging in the wake of solidarity with refugees from Ukraine? The report on Hungary explores these questions while analyzing Hungary's demographic developments and tracing the key stages of recent migration and integration policy, especially after Orbán came to power.
MIDEM Policy Brief
The Czech Republic and Refugee Migration from Ukraine
(German)
Kristina Chmelar
03/18/2022
As a result of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the United Nations speaks of the fastest growing 'refugee crisis' since World War II. Although the Czech Republic has no direct border with Ukraine, some 270,000 Ukrainian refugees arrived in the country since the invasion. The Czech Republic has been quicker than any other country to provide them with special visas and to grant the new arrivals refuge and assistance - without complications. A few years ago, between 50 and 69 percent of respondents were against accepting refugees from countries affected by warlike conflict. To day, however, Czech solidarity with the Ukrainian population is enormous. What has changed now? How does the traditionally migration-critical Czech society deal with Ukrainian refugee migration? What problems will confront Czech politics in the upcoming weeks and months? The Policy Brief provides an initial overview of developments in refugee reception and integration in the Czech Republic to date. For this purpose, data from the Czech authorities as well as relevant surveys and media were analyzed.
MIDEM Policy Paper
Health Care for Asylum Seekers in the Federal States (Germany)
(German)
Katja Lindner
02/03/2022
The pandemic continues to dominate our daily lives, making the issue of health one of the most important of our time. However, what does life look like for asylum seekers when it comes to health? Both access and coverage of health services are highly dependent on one factor - the fortuity of housing. This is because how asylum seekers access to health care is structured and how the costs of providing care to asylum seekers are reimbursed to municipalities varies from state to state in this regard. However, how can equal opportunities for asylum seekers health care be ensured when there are significant differences in access and scope of services among the states? This policy paper provides an overview of the legal and administrative framework and the differences in health care provision for asylum seekers at the level of federal states and makes recommendations for action based on scientific research findings.
MIDEM Annual Report 2021
COVID-19 and Right-Wing Populism
(German)
12/01/2021
Times of crisis are the hour of the populists. Thus, right-wing populist parties were able to strengthen their unique selling point even during the pandemic. This is the conclusion of the 2021 annual study COVID-19 and Right-Wing Populism conducted by the Mercator Forum Migration and Democracy (MIDEM). Through an analysis of the official Facebook pages of right-wing populist parties in Europe, this study shows that COVID-19 is an important mobilization issue and is used to tap into populist voter strata. While right-wing populists do not usually address the issue of COVID-19 more frequently than other parties, the way they communicate in relation to the topic clearly stands out from that of other parties. For example, government measures to combat the pandemic have become the backdrop for the projection of polemically and emotionally charged criticism of the government. Right-wing populist parties that are in government are an exception: During the pandemic, they were primarily concerned with depoliticizing the COVID-19 issue. The MIDEM Annual Study 2021 provides insights and background analysis on the social media communication of right-wing populist parties in 12 European countries.
MIDEM Country Report
Italy
(German)
Giovanni de Ghantuz Cubbe
10/27/2021
Over the last 40 years, Italy has transformed from an emigration country to one of the largest immigration countries in Europe. Nevertheless, Italy has never really seen itself as a country of immigration. With fatal consequences. The country still does not have an integration policy worthy of this name. And migration policy has always been in crisis mode. In Italian politics, too, alarmist tones predominate, with which the right-wing populist parties evoke the narrative of an invasion by migrants. But how great is the need for action on migration and what demographic and social challenges does the Draghi government have to master? The current country report Italy provides an overview of the development of Italian migration and refugee policy and describes the central areas of conflict.
MIDEM Policy Brief
Migration in Exploratory and Coalition Talks
(German)
Steven Schäller
10/07/2021
As recently as 2017, the issue of migration played a central role in the election campaign and in the exploratory talks for a Jamaica coalition. In 2021, the situation looks different: For one thing, other issues dominated the election campaign. For another, the parties are predominantly pragmatic on the migration issue. So, is it even possible that the upcoming coalition talks after the 2021 federal elections fail because of differing views on migration? The current MIDEM Policy Brief takes a look at the two most likely coalition options - the traffic light and Jamaica - and shows migration policy overlaps as well as the stumbling blocks on the way to a new federal government.
MIDEM Report
COVID-19 in Saxony
(German)
Hans Vorländer, Cyrill Otteni, Maik Herold
06/16/2021
For one and a half years, Saxony has been dominated by the pandemic and compared with other regions in Germany it had one of the highest incidence levels in winter 2020/2021. Against this background, it has been widely suspected that in Saxony in particular, certain socio-spatial and political-cultural factors have additionally exacerbated the infection situation. So is Saxony the 'heartland of Querdenker' with a 'renitent' population? The study is the first to provide representative results on the attitude of the Saxon population towards the COVID-19 protection measures and provides information on the importance of socio-spatial distribution and political-cultural factors in the assessment and evaluation of the pandemic and the measures to contain it.
MIDEM Annual Report 2020
Emigration in Europe
(German)
12/08/2020
Migration has been one of the dominant topics of European politics and public opinion in recent years. However, the focus has mostly been on immigration. Emigration has received much less attention to date. MIDEM's Annual Report 2020 addresses this change in perspective and examines the extent, structure and development of emigration in the EU area, thus breaking new empirical ground. Until now, emigration dynamics and the political handling of them have not been studied comparatively. The Annual Report 2020 therefore has an exploratory character; it aims to invite discussion and further research.
MIDEM Country Report
Czech Republic
(German)
Kristina Chmelar
07/21/2020
MIDEM Policy Brief
The Presidential Election in Poland 2020
(German)
Marta Kozłowska
06/26/2020
MIDEM Country Report
France
(German)
Aimie Bouju
03/04/2020
MIDEM Policy Brief
Parliamentary Election Campaign in Slovakia 2020
(German)
Kristina Chmelar
02/27/2020
MIDEM Annual Report
Migration and Europe
(German)
11/27/2019
MIDEM Report
The General Elections in Switzerland 2019
(German)
Marco Bitschnau
10/24/2019
MIDEM Report
The General Elections in Poland 2019
(English)
Marta Kozłowska
10/17/2019
MIDEM Report
The General Elections in Portugal 2019
(English)
Mariana S. Mendes
10/09/2019
MIDEM Report
The Austrian Parliament Election 2019
(German)
Manès Weisskircher
10/01/2019
MIDEM Country Report
Netherlands
(German)
Julia Rakers
08/01/2019
MIDEM Report
The General Elections in Greece 2019
(English)
Anna Kyriazi
07/11/2019
MIDEM Policy Brief
The Danish Parliament Election 2019
(German)
Anna-Sophie Heinze
06/12/2019
MIDEM Study
Europe before the Elections
(German)
05/22/2019
MIDEM Policy Paper
Participation and Diversity at the Local Level - Municipal Integration Concepts in Germany
(German)
Ann-Christin Damm
05/15/2019
MIDEM Report
The General Elections in Spain 2019
(English)
Mariana S. Mendes
05/06/2019
MIDEM Report
The Election to the Finnish Parliament 2019
(German)
Anna-Sophie Heinze, Julia Rakers
04/17/2019
MIDEM Policy Brief
The Presidential Election in Slovakia 2019
(German)
Kristina Chmelar
04/08/2019
MIDEM Policy Brief
Brexit Scenarios and What They Mean for Migration Policy
(German)
Christian Wöhst
02/20/2019
MIDEM Report
The Swedish General Election 2018
(German)
Anna-Sophie Heinze
09/14/2018
MIDEM Country Report
United Kingdom
(German)
Christian Wöhst
07/12/2018
MIDEM Policy Brief
The Austrian Presidency of the EU Council and Asylum Politics in Europe: What to Expect?
Manès Weisskircher
07/02/2018
Monograph
PEGIDA and New Right-Wing Populism in Germany
Hans Vorländer, Maik Herold,
Steven Schäller
Palgrave Macmillan 2018
MIDEM Policy Brief
The Immigration and Integration Concept II of the Free State of Saxony
(German)
Ann-Christin Damm
06/05/2018
In the meantime, an implementation plan has also been provided by the interministerial working group ZIK II. In it responsibilities are assigned and the parties involved and the target groups are identified.
MIDEM Policy Paper
Migration Policy in the Federal Election Campaign 2017 – the Gap Between Actual Policy and Its Portrayal
(German)
Andreas Blätte, Simon Gehlhar,
Jan Gehrmann, Andreas Niederberger, Julia Rakers, Eva Weiler
06/04/2018
MIDEM Report
The Hungarian Parliament Election 2018
(German)
Ellen Bos
Zoltán Tibor Pállinger
05/03/2018
MIDEM Report
The Italian Parliament Election
(German)
Oliviero Angeli
Giovanni de Ghantuz Cubbe
03/28/2018
MIDEM Policy Paper
The Domicile Requirement as a German Integration Policy Tool? The Example of Saxony
(German)
Nona Renner
03/15/2018
MIDEM Report
The Czech Chamber of Deputies Election 2017
(German)
Kristina Chmelar
11/15/2017
MIDEM Report
The Austrian National Council Election 2017
(German)
Manès Weisskircher
10/25/2017