Refugees

Refugees are individuals who have been formally recognized as having fled their countries of residence to escape persecution, armed conflict, or other violence. Until they are recognized as such, these individuals are asylum seekers—individuals who have claimed refugee status and are waiting for that claim to be evaluated. If a host country’s asylum system accepts their claim, then asylum seekers formally become refugees. This entry provides an overview of the current status of refugees worldwide. It then focuses on attitudes toward refugees by members of host nations, factors influencing these attitudes, and the consequences of the negative attitudes that are often expressed. In the description of relevant research, the entry includes research that has examined attitudes toward both refugees and asylum seekers, reflecting the fact ...