Comparative surveys
Measure attitudes toward immigration and different dimensions of democratic attachment across contexts.
ERC Starting Grant project
Democracy-Migration Paradox
Anti-Immigrant Attitudes and Commitment to Democracy
DEMIG examines whether and how anti-immigrant attitudes affect citizens’ attachment to democracy. The project is based at Sabancı University and runs from May 2026 to April 2031.
The project
What DEMIG studies
Research on immigration attitudes and research on democratic attachment have largely developed separately. DEMIG brings them together.
The project investigates whether opposition to immigration gradually weakens democratic attachment or produces a more selective form of support: commitment to some democratic institutions and principles, but not others. It also examines how these patterns change across political and economic conditions.
About the projectCore research questions
- How do anti-immigrant attitudes affect citizens’ attachment to liberal democracy over time?
- Do exclusionary attitudes weaken support for democracy as a whole, or particular principles such as minority rights and political equality?
- How do different forms of immigration, immigrant profiles, and economic or cultural concerns shape democratic preferences?
Research design
How the project works
DEMIG combines observational and experimental evidence. AI is used in one part of the project to assist survey-question development; it does not replace surveys or research participants.
Panel and longitudinal research
Track how attitudes change alongside migration flows, elections, policy changes, economic conditions, and political crises.
Survey experiments
Use conjoint, vignette, and related experimental designs to investigate causal mechanisms.
AI-assisted question development
Develop survey questions and test them against conventionally written questions for clarity, neutrality, and measurement quality.
Principal investigator
M. Tahir Kılavuz
M. Tahir Kılavuz is an associate professor at Sabancı University. His research focuses on comparative politics, public opinion, political regimes, and the politics of the Middle East.
He leads DEMIG’s scientific programme and the project team based at Sabancı University.
Meet the project teamLatest update
Project news
DEMIG receives an ERC Starting Grant
The five-year Democracy-Migration Paradox project will examine the tension between democratic commitment and anti-immigrant attitudes.
Read the updateFor project enquiries, media requests, or research-related correspondence, contact the DEMIG team.
Contact