Publication Date

8-2016

Date of Final Oral Examination (Defense)

6-14-2016

Type of Culminating Activity

Thesis

Degree Title

Master of Arts in Political Science

Department

Political Science

Supervisory Committee Chair

Ross Burkhart, Ph.D.

Supervisory Committee Member

Michael Touchton, Ph.D

Supervisory Committee Member

Brian Wampler, Ph.D.

Abstract

What is the impact of migration patterns on perceptions of personal security in the European Union countries over the past half-decade? Although the numbers of migrants from outside the EU are undeniably massive, their impact upon domestic public opinion is understudied. Following recent work that explores themes of fear of migrants in EU native populations (Bustikova 2014, d' Appollonia and Reich 2008, Ivarsflaten 2008), I propose a multivariate model that explains variation across EU countries in citizens' views of personal security that includes migration rates, unemployment rates, crime rates, the presence of terrorism, and views of government performance. The results suggest that controlling for these several factors, increased migration rates have a statistically significant effect on increasing personal insecurity among the EU citizenry.

Share

COinS