Ethnocentric attitudes have been rising in Europe in the last two years, according to an international survey by the Pew Research Center's, apparently reflecting concerns over immigration, globalisation and the current economic downturn.
The report, published on Wednesday, found increasing levels of Anti-Semitism across Europe with particularly strong negativity in Spain, Poland and Russia. The survey also revealed strong Anti-Muslim views in those three countries, as well as in Germany and France.
"There is a clear relationship between anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim attitudes," the report claimed: "Publics that view Jews unfavorably also tend to see Muslims in a negative light."
Older people, the less educated and those who considered themselves of the political right were more likely to be prejudiced.
Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center believes immigration may be amongst the causes of the intolerance found. "There may be some backlash toward minority groups going on in Europe as a consequence of the EU's expansion and globalization," he said.
Outside of Europe the report revealed pervasive worry about Islamic extremism. Majorities among many Muslim majority countries - including Indonesia, Pakistan, Tanzania and Lebanon - said they were concerned about the rise of Islamic extremism in the world today.
Similar numbers said they were concerned about Islamic extremism in their countries. Majorities in Turkey and Tanzania, and nearly half of Indonesians also said there was a struggle in their country between groups who want to modernise the nation and Islamic fundamentalists.
Support for terrorism continued to drop, particularly in countries that have suffered from terror attacks. In Lebanon, the view that suicide bombing was always or sometimes justified more than halved from 74 percent in 2002 to 32 percent. Significant minorities in Lebanon, Jordan and Nigeria, however, still endorse such tactics.
Download the report here
