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<p>Current research on regional identities does not fully account for the role of regional intergroup dynamics in shaping immigration attitudes. Drawing on insights from the party literature on affective polarization, we argue that not only regional ingroup likes, but also regional outgroup dislikes likely shape attitudes towards other outgroups such as immigrants. We test these arguments in Belgium’s three regions: Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels-Capital. Using novel survey data, we find that negative feelings toward other regional groups consistently correlate with stronger anti-immigrant sentiment, reinforcing a generalized outgroup rejection. However, the findings for regional ingroup attachment vary: in Flanders and Wallonia, stronger regional identity aligns with exclusionary attitudes, while in Brussels, it is linked to more inclusive views. This study makes three contributions: (1) advancing research on regional affects, (2) demonstrating the role of regional outgroup dislike in shaping migration attitudes, and (3) systematically incorporating Brussels into cross-regional empirical analyses. Our findings highlight the role of subnational identity dynamics in shaping immigration attitudes within multi-level systems.</p>

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Regional affects and attitudes towards immigrants: the case of Belgium

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月8日

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  • Elie Michel,
  • Mia K. Gandenberger,
  • Anita Manatschal

摘要

Current research on regional identities does not fully account for the role of regional intergroup dynamics in shaping immigration attitudes. Drawing on insights from the party literature on affective polarization, we argue that not only regional ingroup likes, but also regional outgroup dislikes likely shape attitudes towards other outgroups such as immigrants. We test these arguments in Belgium’s three regions: Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels-Capital. Using novel survey data, we find that negative feelings toward other regional groups consistently correlate with stronger anti-immigrant sentiment, reinforcing a generalized outgroup rejection. However, the findings for regional ingroup attachment vary: in Flanders and Wallonia, stronger regional identity aligns with exclusionary attitudes, while in Brussels, it is linked to more inclusive views. This study makes three contributions: (1) advancing research on regional affects, (2) demonstrating the role of regional outgroup dislike in shaping migration attitudes, and (3) systematically incorporating Brussels into cross-regional empirical analyses. Our findings highlight the role of subnational identity dynamics in shaping immigration attitudes within multi-level systems.