What Is Xenophobia? How Is It Still Prevalent Today?

Meaning of Xenophobia:  Xenophobia refers to a fear, aversion, or bias against individuals who are considered outsiders or foreigners. Xenophobia is a form of discrimination based on nationality, ethnicity, religion, or culture. You might have heard about the term 'racism,' which is associated with race, the same way xenophobia is associated more generally with the concept of ‘Others’ who are not part of the dominant society. Xenophobia has existed throughout history, from colonial times to modernisation and then globalisation. In the contemporary world, xenophobia remains a serious problem despite people nowadays being educated and aware about the importance of basic human rights and interconnectivity worldwide.

Migration, economic disparity, political unrest, and climate change all fuel mass population movements, which occasionally cause hostile situations. In such situations, refugees and immigrants tend to be subject to stereotypes, discrimination, and even violence in host nations. For instance, anti-immigrant sentiments in certain regions of Europe, America, and Asia, as per United Nations reports, showcase how economic concerns are redirected as resentment toward minorities. Political stances and social media also elevate the xenophobic sentiment by spreading misinformation and instilling the classic war of ‘Us vs Them.’

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How Xenophobia Is It Still Prevalent Today?

Xenophobia is experienced as hate crimes in some societies, and in others, it is institutionalised in the form of restrictive immigration policies or discriminatory employment policies. Especially during times of crisis, like pandemics or financial crises. In such situations, minorities and migrant communities are disproportionately blamed for the bad fortune of the country, which highlights how deep-rooted these prejudices are. Removing social barriers like xenophobia requires a lot of effort, but the cornerstone of it all is education that will promote cultural understanding, policies to support inclusion, and strong community initiatives to counter stereotypes on basic levels.

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While globalisation has interconnected human beings more than ever before, it has also revealed social splits. Identifying xenophobia as not only a singular prejudice but an underlying systematic issue is key to building an inclusive, safe, and resilient world for each other. Otherwise, this ancient fear of ‘the stranger’ will continue to affect world harmony and progress.