Project website: fsd.uni-lj.si/raziskovalno_in_razvojno_delo/projekti/aktualni_projekti/2025011711232492/  

Project type: Basic research project

Code: J5-60091

Beginning: 01.01.2025

End: 31.12.2027

Funding: Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency

Collaborating organisations:

Faculty of Social Work, University of Ljubljana; The Peace Institute

Coordinator: Institute for Ethnic Studies

Leader: red. prof. dr. Vesna Leskošek (na FSD)

Associates:

na FSD: red. prof. dr. Vesna Leskošek, doc. dr. Ana Kralj; izr. prof. dr. Jelka Zorn

Keywords:

immigrants, welfare state, multiculturalism, integration, public opinion, media, Slovenia

Summary:

The foundation of the research issue lies in two pivotal factors. Firstly, there is a growing imperative for heightened social welfare spending in Slovenia, spurred by various factors. Secondly, the ethnic and cultural diversity of Slovenia is anticipated to increase, driven by the necessity for immigration due to an ageing population and labour shortages. Ensuring social stability, cohesion, and solidarity necessitates the successful integration of immigrants with the broader society. Policies of multiculturalism and integration emerge as potential tools for fostering national solidarity and cohesion in ethnically diverse societies. The surge in the need for social welfare spending may prompt stricter eligibility criteria for welfare benefits. Within this context, the majority population often perceives immigrants as less entitled to welfare benefits, fostering a predisposition to exclude immigrants from the welfare state. What begins as a primarily welfare-state issue transforms into a multidimensional problem with far-reaching societal implications, impacting the economy, social cohesion, and migration policy. Our proposed project aims to delve into the legal and factual status of immigrants in Slovenia concerning the welfare state. Furthermore, we seek to explore the attitudes of Slovenia’s population towards the integration of immigrants into the welfare state as well as the link between social welfare policies and the opinions of the Slovene population. Drawing on theoretical frameworks and previous studies on the impact of multiculturalism and integration policies on reducing aversion towards immigrants and fostering social solidarity, we intend to investigate the connection between the population's attitude towards these policies and their stance on the integration of immigrants into the welfare state. The study will primarily focus on identifying factors shaping the attitudes of the Slovene population, serving as a foundation for designing targeted measures that can indirectly influence public attitudes, contributing to more successful immigrant integration, enhanced social solidarity, and cohesion. Given the crucial role of media in shaping public opinion, our project places special emphasis on media reporting analysis. By conducting a comprehensive examination of Slovene media reports, our goal is to assess how issues concerning the integration of immigrants into the welfare state, multiculturalism, and integration are presented. This scrutiny aims to offer valuable insights into the narrative construction and framing of these pivotal topics within the public discourse. Special attention will be dedicated to uncovering any presence of racism/chauvinism/nationalism in the integration of immigrants into the welfare state, spanning policies, media coverage, and attitudes, and examining the consequences of such racism/chauvinism/nationalism on immigrant integration and the preservation of social cohesion. To navigate the complexity of our project effectively, we will adopt a thoughtful mix of research methods. This includes traditional tools like literature reviews and desk research, along with a more contemporary approach involving qualitative analysis of media coverage and quantitative methods such as surveys and statistical analysis. This balanced strategy is designed to yield comprehensive insights and robust answers to our research questions.