Our attitude towards representatives of other nations is not uniform and depends on the level of interaction we are willing to accept. The willingness to simply tolerate a stranger in society and the willingness to accept him into one’s immediate environment are two different levels of social distance. One of the most famous methods of its measurement is Bogardus scale, which allows us to assess how close people are ready to accept representatives of other ethnic groups in their lives.
This scale covers several levels of interaction: from abstract consent to the presence of a representative of another nation in the country to full acceptance into one’s own family. It helps to understand how the social distance between different communities is formed, which is especially relevant in the conditions of migration crises and international conflicts.
The attitude towards Ukrainian refugees in Europe is a telling example of how social distance changes under the influence of political, economic and social factors. At first, many Ukrainians in EU countries were met with openness and willingness to help, but later this attitude began to change. It is important for public institutions that take care of migration processes to understand at what level of interaction public opinion is formed: whether it is only about general support or about readiness to accept refugees in their immediate environment.
Research in recent years shows that public opinion in different countries changes depending on circumstances, resources and political atmosphere. Are Europeans ready to accept Ukrainian refugees at the level of neighbors? Are they perceived as equal citizens? Or, on the contrary, is social distance increasing? These questions are key to analyzing changes in public attitudes and forming political decisions regarding the integration of refugees.
Support for Ukrainians in Poland is melting
Attitudes towards Ukrainian refugees in Poland have changed significantly since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. As shown by the data of surveys conducted Warsaw University, the level of willingness of Poles to accept Ukrainian refugees with the possibility of settlement has sharply decreased. If in April 2022, 30% of respondents agreed to accept refugees, then in January 2023 this indicator increased to 37%, but already in June 2024 it decreased to 17%.
Infographic: IA “FACT”
This trend reflects several important aspects, including different levels of interaction between the local population and refugees, which are well explained through Bogardus’ social distance scale. At the initial stage of the war, the level of solidarity was extremely high, which can be explained by the emotional shock of the war and a strong sense of a common history that unites Ukraine and Poland. Empathic interaction prevailed at this level: the Poles were ready not only to support the Ukrainians morally, but also to provide them with temporary housing, financial assistance and humanitarian support. There are a lot of poignant stories about how the Poles hospitably welcomed the Ukrainians, who were tired of the road and uncertainty, in February-March 2022, provided them with their accommodation, food, clothes, medicines, etc.
However, over time, social and economic differences began to emerge, which affected the level of acceptance of refugees. They reflect the level of practical interaction where factors such as competition for jobs, social benefits and integration into the educational system become influential. At this stage, part of the local population began to perceive refugees as a long-term factor that could change the labor market and social policy. As a result, the level of support began to decrease.
The latest data, which shows 17% approval for accepting refugees with settlement in June 2024, reflects the transition to a stage of conflict interaction, when society is polarized. This is noticeable in Poland, where the political discourse surrounding refugees has become more acute, and anti-Ukrainian narratives have begun to appear in the media, which are used by some parties to mobilize voters.
An additional dimension of social distance analysis is groups. In different segments of Polish society, the level of attitude towards Ukrainian refugees differs. Young people and residents of large cities, who interact more often with Ukrainians at universities and at workplaces, have a more positive level of acceptance. At the same time, in regions with unemployment and fewer resources for integration, the level of support is much lower.
In general, the survey data of the University of Warsaw confirm the trend of growing distance between Ukrainian refugees and the local population in Poland. This challenges the EU and national governments to develop effective integration strategies that can reduce social tension and help in the adaptation of both local communities and newly arrived Ukrainians.
They can stay, but new refugees are not needed – Czech Republic
The attitude of the Czechs towards Ukrainian refugees remains generally positive, but with certain reservations regarding the further growth of their number in the country.
Infographic: IA “FACT”
As evidenced by the data STEM survey, in 2022 70% of Czechs supported the acceptance of Ukrainian refugees, but already in 2024 the attitude became more reserved. About 47% of respondents (the sum of answers “definitely not” and “rather not”) do not support the idea that Ukrainians should stay in the country, while 53% still express approval for their stay.
These changes reflect a trend common to many European countries: the initial stage of the war was dominated by emotional support and solidarity with the refugees, but over time the public mood became more pragmatic. Czechs still mostly support Ukrainian refugees, but at the same time, 59% believe that the government should limit their influx.
Interestingly, compared to Poland, where the level of support has decreased significantly, the Czech Republic maintains a balance between approval of accepting refugees and the desire to control their number. At the same time, there are population groups that more often show a negative attitude, in particular those who have less contact with Ukrainians in everyday life. It can also be noted that the issue of refugee integration remains a challenge, and this topic is gradually gaining a political color.
In general, there is no unequivocal rejection of Ukrainians in Czech society, but there is a growing demand for a more orderly policy regarding refugees and their integration. In the future, the economic situation and how effectively the government will be able to combine humanitarian commitments with domestic challenges will be an important factor.
Germany is tired of the migration crisis
The attitude of Germans towards refugees, particularly Ukrainian refugees, is a complex and dynamic topic that largely depends on the general political and economic context. Germany is one of the main recipient countries of refugees in Europe, and Ukrainians make up a large part of this group. According to data for 2024, there are more than 1.1 million Ukrainian citizens in the country, which makes them the largest group of refugees in Germany.
Infographic: IA “FACT”
The infographic demonstrates general trends in the attitude of German society to the reception of refugees from different countries, which to some extent also reflects the attitude towards Ukrainians. In 2023, 52% of Germans supported accepting the same or more refugees, but in 2024 this figure dropped to 36%. This may indicate fatigue from the migration crisis, fears about integration challenges and growing economic difficulties. A study by the Center for International Institutional Comparisons and Migration Studies of the Ifo Institute in Munich showed that only a fifth of Ukrainian refugees in Germany plan to return to Ukraine in the near future. In 2022, 46% of respondents expressed a desire to return, while in the summer of 2023 this figure dropped to 21%. Currently, 77% are refugees are planning to stay in Germany for the coming years.
There is also a noticeable increase in public support for the idea of limiting the right to asylum: in 2024, 43% of Germans were in favor of further restrictions in migration policy. This correlates with the trend of growing popularity of conservative and right-wing populist parties, which advocate stricter control of migration flows.
It is important to note that although these statistics cover refugees from different countries, it is Ukrainian migrants who are often perceived more positively due to their status as war refugees and cultural proximity. However, in the conditions of general migration fatigue, their perception may also change, especially if political forces use increasingly broad anti-migrant rhetoric.
Therefore, Germany remains open to refugees, but more and more citizens are inclined to the fact that the scale of reception should be reviewed and the migration policy should become more controlled. This means that Ukrainians seeking asylum in Germany may find it harder to get the support they had in the early years after the full-scale war broke out.
