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Views About National Identity Becoming More Inclusive in U.S., Western Europe
Focus groups in U.S., UK find that left and right see the same aspects of history through a very different lens
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- Views About National Identity Becoming More Inclusive in U.S., Western Europe
- Fewer now say criteria for national belonging like birthplace, religion are important
- Differing views about changing traditions, recognizing discrimination and avoiding offending others
- Americans more likely than British, Germans or French to see discrimination against Christians
- Ideological gaps on issues of tradition, offending others, seeing discrimination
- Large ideological divides on pride in country in the U.S., UK
- Focus groups in U.S., UK find that left and right see the same aspects of history through a very different lens
- Most surveyed see speaking the dominant language as critical to belonging
- Criteria for national belonging have become less strict for many, particularly Britons and Americans
- Views about national identity have shifted significantly among American moderates and liberals, and to a lesser extent, among conservatives as well
- Significant ideological divides on issue of national identity, especially in U.S.
- Leavers have more restrictive view of national identity than Remainers
- Republicans have more restrictive view of national identity than Democrats
- Supporters of right-wing populist parties more likely to see criteria for belonging in their country
- Older people have stricter views on national belonging
- Rising shares say immigrants want to adopt way of life of their new country
- Larger shares say immigrants want to adopt customs, including significant shifts among those on the ideological right
- In focus groups, Republicans, Leavers stressed assimilation
- In focus groups, Democrats, Remainers highlighted benefits of multiculturalism
- Muslims and Jews seen as facing more discrimination than Christians
- In U.S., those on the right more likely to say Christians face discrimination than in UK, France, Germany
- Fewer right-wing populist party supporters say Muslims face discrimination
- Many say bigger problem is discrimination going unseen
- Younger and more educated people more concerned about discrimination
- Large ideological splits on issue of seeing discrimination in society
- Germans slightly favor being careful to avoid offense; in other publics, more say people are too easily offended
- Ideological left more concerned with avoiding offense with what they say
- Republicans, Leavers share similar views on politically correct culture but focus on different aspects
- Democrats and Remainers see positives in politically correct culture, though some worry about downsides
- Most say they are proud or a mix of proud and ashamed of their country
- Britons and Americans on the ideological right much more likely to express pride in their country
- Focus group participants in U.S. and UK cite racism, political correctness as things that make them embarrassed
- Outside of France, majorities are open to traditions changing
- Younger adults more likely to say their country will be better off if open to changing traditions
- Right-wing populist supporters in Germany, UK, France more likely than nonsupporters to say their country should stick to its traditions
- European populist party classifications