47% of Russians have a negative attitude towards guest workers; 34% blame many of Russia’s troubles on people of “non-Russian” nationalities; 57% are ready to support the restriction of entry into their city of residents not only from neighboring countries, but also from other regions of Russia. These figures are the highest in the history of polls (since 1997). What is it connected with? We asked psychologist Glalina Soldatova to comment on the situation.
Psychologies : Is our society becoming more and more intolerant?
Galina Soldatova Galina Soldatova: Yes, because the attitude towards migrants is a clear indicator of the level of social tension. We have a lot of social problems that increase our mutual distrust, aggression and strengthen (irrational fears, in which the danger is exaggerated, does not correspond to reality). Well, xenophobia is one of the most frequent social fears. Its mechanism is as old as the world: it is easier to live with fear if you direct it to an external object. Often the most vulnerable people become such an object, in our country these are migrants. They fall under the scope in those periods when there are no more significant images of the enemy (for example, an external military threat).
Is it necessary to get rid of the feeling of hostility towards those who are not like us?
G.S. G.S.: Mankind has been fighting intolerance throughout its history – and that is why it still exists. One of the achievements of this struggle is the adoption of the Declaration of Principles of Tolerance**. We have no other way, and it is necessary to start here with ourselves: not to succumb to the temptation of black-and-white thinking and to cultivate tolerance in children, explaining to them the mechanisms of xenophobia.
* According to a survey by the Levada Center, September 2012. For more information see levada.ru
** Declaration of Principles on Tolerance adopted by UNESCO on November 16, 1995. The text of the declaration in Russian: tolerance.ru/declar.html
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