Immigration and Nationalistic Attitudes: Panel Evidence from Chile

Does rapid and large-scale migration fuel nationalism? Using administrative and panel survey data from Chile, we show that sudden, large-scale migration inflows increase identity-based nationalistic attitudes, such as national pride, among native-born citizens. These “immigration shocks” appear to activate perceptions of identity threat, leading to stronger expressions of national pride and belonging. Supplementary evidence from surveys, media reports, social media, and crime records suggests that this nationalism is predominantly exclusionary: areas most affected by migration also experienced spikes in anti-migrant rhetoric, hate crimes, and support for a newly formed far-right party. These findings underscore how rapid demographic changes can reshape political attitudes and contribute to the rise of exclusionary forms of national identity.