Examples of Xenophobia

With the name of xenophobia the rejection that some people have with others who were not born in the same country, that is to say with foreigners, is recognized. It is a particular case of the discrimination and most western countries are concerned with instilling in children a tolerance that reduces the levels of xenophobia, but nevertheless under different circumstances it is common for xenophobic movements to intensify. For example: Arabs in Spain, Mexicans in the United States, Africans in Europe.

It happens that xenophobia seems to regress in certain periods, however in light of the economical crisis Not a few societies tend to blame foreigners for ills. Ironically, the phenomenon of xenophobia occurs even in societies that are almost entirely made up of children or grandchildren of foreigners, welcomed at the time by that country.

Xenophobia can only be found in people who have a very high valuation of the country where they were born, so it is common for nationalist ideology groups to touch xenophobia or even admit and exercise it. In the most extreme cases, they go as far as carry out attacks or to scourge those born in other countries. The arrival of nationalist groups to the government is quite dangerous, having as a precedent the blackest periods in the history of mankind, those in which certain countries were ruled by them.

Examples of xenophobia

Ten historical examples of xenophobia in different parts of the world will be listed below, also explaining the extent it has had in history.

1. Nazism. In the light of a severe economic crisis in Germany, the figure of Adolf Hitler emerged in politics claiming that the pure German essence was superior and that the cause of evils were foreigners (particularly Jews, although including other minorities). Its approval led to the construction of an Empire that cost more than 6 million lives in Europe, and that could only end in the light of World War II.
2. Dominican Republic and Haiti. These two countries are close together and have very different conditions, where the first one lives in much better conditions than the second, which to top it off suffered a devastating earthquake from which it does not fully recover. The presence of Haitians in the Dominican Republic is sometimes a source of conflict.
3. Ku Klux Klan. After the Civil War in the United States, several far-right organizations in that country formed an ultra xenophobic organization that sought to limit all the rights of slaves. It did not achieve decisive influences, and it could be neutralized some time later until it disappeared.
4. Israel and the Middle East. The historic wars in that region made it impossible to see an Israeli in certain Muslim countries, while without the reverse happening in the same way, nationalist groups in Israel reject Arab immigration, which is very large.
5. Central Americans in Mexico. The economic crises in Central American countries encourage the arrival of illegal immigrants to Mexico, who are often mistreated by those born in that land.
6. Mexicans in the United States. Despite having quite restrictive immigration policies, a large part of the United States is Latino. Although much progress has been made in this regard, there are still some rises between Americans and immigrants or children of immigrants.
7. Arabs in Spain. The very large presence of citizens of Arab origin in Spain dates back to very ancient times, and in certain cases it finds suspicion on the part of Spanish citizens.
8. Conflict between Koreas. The battles between North Korea and South Korea often reach xenophobia, with the difference that the former is much more isolated than the latter, as regards the reception of immigrants.
9. Africans in Europe. In the light of the enormous social conflicts in Africa, refugees often come to European countries in search of peace and tranquility. They are received with different attitudes, sometimes even with rejection from the governments themselves.
10. Latin Americans in Argentina. The crisis that much of Latin America experienced at the end of the 20th century led to a restructuring by which many born in Bolivia, Paraguay and Peru went to Argentina in search of work. This caused an outbreak of xenophobia to occur in some people, who have not had correspondence in governments.