Explaining Tolerance: Local Governance and Citizen Attitudes Towards Migrants

• In Event: Refugees and Local Politics (Pre-Recorded)

Abstract

Around the world mass migration is sparking fear and hatred from host communities drawing much scholarly attention. My paper looks to an example of when migration does not provoke resistance, asking instead: What explains the tolerant policies and accepting attitudes towards migrants in some nations and communities? I suggest we look towards under-explored contexts of Venezuelan migration in Colombia for new models. Using Colombia as a case study, I explore local government policies and host citizens attitudes towards migrants. I use a dataset of pro and anti-migrant local politicians’ platforms from the 2019 municipal elections in order to examine a) when and why politicians promote tolerance of forced migrants and b) how inclusive political messaging is used to appeal to constituents. I argue that local histories of displacement coupled with policies of accommodation from the political right promote migrant acceptance.

Author

• Olivia Asmara Woldemikael, Harvard University