Percepções dos portugueses sobre os imigrantes: Indispensabilidade, acção colectiva e distância social

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of different forms of group indispensability on majority collective action and social distance toward different immigrant groups. Specifically, we examined if perceived indispensability of different immigrant groups for the national identity, and the functioning of the society, (a) reduce social distance and (b) increase the support for collective actions benefiting immigrants, (c) by adopting different group representations (one-group, dual-identity). 172 native Portuguese completed a survey with the measures of interest. Results revealed the expected mediation. Portuguese perceptions of immigrants’ indispensability were associated with less social distance and more participation in collective actions, through the adoption of more inclusive identity representations. Replicating previous studies, these positive effects were driven by different types of indispensability for the different immigrant groups, given the differences in their historical relations with the host society.