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Process in the community, detain offshore or 'turn back the boats'? Predicting Australian asylum-seeker policy support from false beliefs, prejudice and political ideology
Hartley, Lisa K. Anderson, Joel R. Pedersen, Anne
Hartley, Lisa K.
Anderson, Joel R.
Pedersen, Anne
Abstract
Over the past few decades, there has been a progressive implementation of policies designed to deter the arrival of people seeking protection. In Australia, this has included offshore processing and towing boats of asylum seekers away from Australian waters. In a community survey of 164 Australians, this study examined the predictive role of false beliefs about asylum seekers, prejudice and political ideology in support of three policies. Multiple hierarchical regression models indicated that, although political ideology and prejudice were significant predictors of policy support, false beliefs was the strongest predictor. For the policy of processing asylum seekers in the community, less endorsement of false beliefs was a significant predictor, while, for the policy of offshore processing, more endorsement of false beliefs was a significant predictor. For the boat turn-back policy, an increase in false-belief endorsement was the strongest predictor; although increases in prejudice and a prejudice–political ideology interaction (i.e. the predictive value of prejudice was stronger for participants who identified as politically conservative) also independently predicted support. Practical implications and future research avenues are discussed.
Keywords
asylum-seeker policy, community attitudes, prejudice, false beliefs, misperceptions, political ideology
Date
2019
Type
Journal article
Journal
Journal of Refugee Studies
Book
Volume
32
Issue
4
Page Range
562-582
Article Number
ACU Department
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled