Exploring Selective Solidarity with Refugees in Germany: The Role of Political Orientation and National Glorification

Studies and public opinion polls in Germany reveal double standards in the acceptance of Ukrainian versus Black/Arab and Muslim refugees. In three studies (N = 2839) conducted in Germany, we confirm a selective solidarity effect: Germans express more solidarity with Ukrainian compared to Afghan (Study 1-3), Syrian and Eritrean refugees (Study 3). We further explored whether national glorification and political orientation exacerbate selective solidarity. Results were somewhat inconsistent. The interaction between refugee origin and national glorification was marginally significant (Study 1) and significant (Study 2), suggesting that concerns for the ingroup partly drive solidarity with Ukrainians. Additionally, in Study 1 the selective solidarity effect emerged more strongly among the political right, while in Study 2 selective solidarity was stronger among the political left. Finally, there was no evidence for any of the hypothesized moderation effects when aggregating allyship with Afghan, Syrian and Eritrean (compared to Ukrainian) refugees in Study 3. These inconsistencies merit further exploration for understanding the role and context sensitivity of political orientation and national glorification in predicting attitudes toward refugees.