The influence of education on Hungarian attitudes towards immigration

Nagy, Attila (author), Dúró, Jószef (author)

In recent years, immigration has become a focal point in political science, prompting a substantial body of literature. This study seeks to contribute to the discourse by investigating the impact of education (X) – an influential socio-demographic factor – on attitudes towards immigration (Y) in Hungary. To qualify the results, the influence of political alignment and key socio-demographic factors – including gender, age and religiosity –, are analysed as control variables. The study also considers how political alignment, and age may interact with education to shape these attitudes. Results from multiple linear regression models indicate that higher educational level correlates with more positive attitudes toward immigration; however, the association is conditional by political alignment and age. The study employs data from the European Social Survey (ESS), with a particular focus on Hungary during 2020-2022 (ESS-Round 10), to contribute to the understanding of the relationship between educational levels and attitudes towards immigration.

• Language: English
• Keywords: migration, education, political polarization, generational gap, Hungary.
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FDV - Faculty of Social Sciences
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 5-23
• Numbering: 18, 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-179174
• Publication date in RUL: 12.02.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Journal of Comparative Politics
• Shortened title: JCP
• Publisher: University of Ljubljana, University of Economics in Bratislava, Alma Mater Europaea
• Year: 2025
• ISSN: 1338-1385

Licences

• License: CC BY-SA 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
• Description: This Creative Commons license is very similar to the regular Attribution license, but requires the release of all derivative works under this same license.
• Licensing start date: 01.01.2025

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Vpliv izobraževanja na madžarski odnos do priseljevanja

Abstract

V zadnjih letih je priseljevanje postalo osrednja točka raziskovanja v politični znanosti, kar je spodbudilo obsežno literaturo. Članek želi prispevati k diskurzu z raziskovanjem vpliva izobrazbe (X) – vplivnega socialno-demografskega dejavnika – na odnos do priseljevanja (Y) na Madžarskem. Za opredelitev rezultatov so kot kontrolne spremenljivke analizirani vpliv politične usmeritve in ključni socio-demografski dejavniki – vključno s spolom, starostjo in veroizpovedjo. Študija preučuje, kako lahko politična usmerjenost in starost vplivata na izobrazbo. Rezultati več linearnih regresijskih modelov kažejo, da je višja izobrazbena raven povezana s pozitivnim odnosom do priseljevanja; povezovanje pa je pogojeno s politično opredeljenostjo in starostjo. Študija uporablja podatke iz Evropske socialne raziskave (ESS), s posebnim poudarkom na Madžarski v obdobju 2020–2022 (ESS deseti krog), da bi prispevala k razumevanju razmerja med stopnjami izobrazbe in odnosom do priseljevanja.

• Keywords: migracije, izobraževanje, politična polarizacija, generacijski prepad, Madžarska.