The Effects of Multiculturalism, Intercultural Interactions, Tolerance, and Perceived Threat on Public Attitudes and Behaviors Towards Refugees

Abstract

In the last century, significant migrations have occurred to neighbouring countries due to internal conflicts and upheavals in regions such as Africa, as well as in countries like Syria and Iraq, which have experienced civil wars or similar turmoil. The challenges that arise from these migrations, exacerbated by globalization, profoundly alter the political, social, economic, and cultural structures of the host regions, significantly impacting their stability and security. In recent years, Turkey has witnessed an unprecedented increase in the number of refugees due to the Syrian Civil War. According to official records, the number of refugees in Turkey has approached four million. As a result, refugees are in constant interaction with the local population across various environments. However, this interaction can sometimes lead to problematic areas and conflicts, driven by the negative attitudes and behaviors exhibited by both sides. Therefore, identifying the factors contributing to negative public attitudes and behaviors toward refugees is crucial for preventing such conflicts. This study explores the attitudes and behaviors of the local population towards Syrian refugees through a proposed structural model. The hypotheses and model fit were tested using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The original contribution of this study lies in the inclusion of the positive behavior variable as an intrinsic component of the theoretical model and in its multidimensional analysis of prosocial behaviors toward refugees. The findings indicate that higher levels of cultural acceptance and tolerance significantly enhance positive helping behaviors toward refugees.