Attitudes towards interethnic partnerships with refugees: Evidence from a factorial survey experiment in Germany

Objective: The study examines the patterns of attitudes towards interethnic partnerships with refugees from Syria and Afghanistan within the German majority population. Background: In 2015/16, Germany experienced a significant influx of refugees, primarily from Syria and Afghanistan - countries that are culturally distant from Germany. The majority of these refugees were in their prime partnership-forming ages, and might seek relationships within the German population. However, the success of their efforts to form partnerships is influenced by the broader social context they are embedded in. Method: Using a factorial survey experiment conducted within wave 58 of the German Internet Panel, we specifically examine the role of cultural distance and the type of partnership for the acceptance of respondents’ relatives engaging in interethnic partnerships with refugees. Results: Our findings indicate that refugees who are Christian, less religious, of Syrian compared to Afghan origin, and possess higher education are more likely to be accepted as partners. Partnerships with refugees tend to be more accepted if they involve lower levels of commitment (like non-marital partnerships). However, as the level of commitment increases, cultural factors become more important in shaping the acceptance of partnerships with refugees. Conclusion: The study reveals that the acceptance of partnerships with refugees heavily depends on both their cultural closeness to the host society and the closeness of the romantic relationship.