Xenophobia
From Halbeeg, the open encyclopedia · Af-Soomaali
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Xenophobia is a disposition and way of thinking in which people are disliked or feared because they are perceived as coming from elsewhere or belonging to a different group. The term comes from two Greek words: xenos (foreigner, guest) and phobos (fear). A foreigner is not only someone with a different ethnic origin; it can also refer to someone who has lived in a country for a long time but is recognized as having a different language, religion, race, or origin.
Xenophobia appears in different forms: speech and rumors, job and housing discrimination, political persecution, and violent attacks. It typically intensifies during periods of economic hardship or when immigration numbers rise, as domestic groups attribute their problems to newcomers.
Meaning and boundaries of the term
Although the term ends in "-phobia," xenophobia is not defined as a psychological condition in the manner of a specific phobia. It is generally a social and political disposition. It is related to but distinct from racism, which is based on ideas of race; xenophobia emphasizes "belonging" to a nation or society, whereas nativism (a related concept) directly privileges those born in a place. These three often overlap.
How it develops
Social scientists point to several mechanisms. One is competition for resources—jobs, housing, and services—when these become scarce. Another is the maintenance of group identity by creating a boundary between "us" and "them." Media and political speech have the power to strengthen or weaken such attitudes, for example by persistently linking immigration to security threats or crime.
Manifestations and effects
Common manifestations include job and rental discrimination, boycotts targeting foreign-owned shops, strict immigration laws, and physical attacks. Effects include pushing people out of the formal labor market, limiting their access to healthcare and police services, and reducing social cohesion. Some governments have enacted laws prohibiting hate speech and employment discrimination, though enforcement varies.