Recent elections across Europe and North America fueled populist anti-immigrant sentiment, leading many to expect Brexit would reinforce xenophobia. However, this study conducted an experiment around the referendum finds that among both Leave and Remain supporters, anti-immigrant attitudes softened post-Brexit.

Key Findings

* Anti-immigrant attitudes softened after the Brexit vote.

* This effect persisted for several months in both groups.

Why It Matters

These results challenge conventional wisdom about populist victories fueling xenophobia. The findings suggest a "populist paradox" occurred, where a right-wing victory unexpectedly decreased anti-immigration views.

Understanding the Paradox with Experimental Analysis

Using causal mediation analysis, researchers uncovered that among Leavers, this softening stemmed from feelings of control over immigration. This sense of agency appears to have influenced attitudes differently than anticipated following the referendum outcome.

The study offers new insights into how political events unfold in public opinion and suggests individuals' efforts to distance themselves from negative stereotypes played a role regardless of their vote.