In Croatia, prejudice, xenophobia, perceptions of threat and negative attitudes towards specific groups of migrants, have increased in the last 10 years, according to research study Attitudes towards foreigners and minorities in Croatian society in 2024: threat, encounter, coexistence?, the preliminary results of which were published by the Centre for Peace Studies (CMS) on International Migrants Day.

The research was conducted by sociologists Drago Župarić-Iljić, from the Department of Sociology of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb, and Sara Lalić from the Centre for Peace Studies, in conjunction with Ipsos among a nationally representative sample of 978 Croatian citizens. It follows on from research in the same vein previously published by CMS in 2013 and 2017.

Lalić noted that “this period of great change, coupled with the lack of [good] quality and coherent policies to combat racism and xenophobia and the strengthening of actors who incite fear and hatred for the sake of a few petty political points, has unfortunately led to the fact that today... Croatian citizens feel fear towards minorities and people who have come to Croatia in search of safety or a better life”.

For example, 42% of respondents to the research survey agreed with the statement: “With the increase in immigration of foreigners, I am afraid that our lives will change for the worse”. The same was true for 36% of respondents in 2017, and for 27% of respondents in 2013. Furthermore, 39% of respondents said they believe that Croatia should completely close its borders to refugees, while 29% of respondents held the same opinion in 2017.

Other data shared within these results give some hope, for example the majority of citizens recognize that foreigners in Croatia should have the right to protection from discrimination (58%) or the right to equal pay for equal work as Croatian citizens (56%), although a more restrictive attitude of citizens was observed in terms of access to certain rights compared to previous research cycles. Similarly, citizens express agreement with the claims that the state must punish employers who exploit workers in the labour market (74% of respondents) and landlords who provide foreign workers with unworthy housing conditions (68% of respondents), which are some of the current main priorities for protecting the rights of foreign workers in Croatia.

Over the past decade, Croatia has become a more culturally diverse society, but at the same time, as this research shows, its residents are becoming more closed to diversity. These trends can be reversed, and - as this research suggests - for this it is necessary to develop and implement migration, asylum and social public policies that will develop the welcome and togetherness of all people who already have, or are creating, their home in Croatia. Furthermore, intercultural and human rights education in schools is needed, and integration activities and programmes in the media and local communities that sensitize us to the needs and rights of the newcomers.