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?
In this talk, Lenka Dražanová will present a new policy paper that critically examines this assumption. Drawing on 20 years of data from the European Social Survey (2002–2022) across 27 countries and using multilevel modeling, the paper reveals that the impact of education on immigration attitudes is far from uniform. Instead, it is shaped by psychological predispositions, economic insecurity and the broader social context.
While higher levels of education are generally associated with more favorable views on immigration, the effect is significantly stronger among individuals with self-transcendent values or high levels of social trust. Conversely, economic hardship can dampen education’s positive influence—particularly among those with lower educational attainment. Even university graduates are not immune: financial insecurity is linked to more exclusionary attitudes, though to a lesser extent.
This talk invites you to explore what these findings mean for democratic resilience today. It argues that while education remains a vital tool, it is not sufficient on its own. Policy strategies aimed at reducing polarization and fostering civic openness must also address the economic and psychological conditions that enable education’s full potential to take root.
