Some 682,000 foreigners live in Brazil according to official statistics, in 2009 – but the number might be higher because so many immigrants don’t have papers and aren’t caught by the radar. Even then, it a pretty minuscule faction in a country with a 190 million population. But the country seems to be attracting more immigrants thanks to the international crisis. This week, the BBC reported that more Portuguese citizens, specially those with higher education, are asking for Brazilian work permits.
Are they going to find a hospitable new home? The answer is: probably yes.
A major poll just promoted by Ipsos MORI research institute asked 17,000 people in 23 countries how they felt about immigration. Here are some of the conclusions:
- Practically half of the Brazilians (49%) interviewed said their country is more interesting thanks to these foreigners (Australia, India and Canada were just a little behind, but the US and Germany seem less enthusiastic, with 36% and 35%, respectively).
- 47% of the Brazilians said that immigration improves the country’s economy.
- But 38% said that immigration makes it harder for Brazilians to find a job (these numbers are way higher in Russia – 75% -, South Africa – 64% -, Great-Britain – 62% – and Argentina – 61%)
- 37% of the Brazilian interviewees said immigration compromises the quality of the public services. In Spain, Belgium and the US, the population is more concerned (70%, 68% and 66%, respectively)
- Also, 41% said that Brazil receives too many immigrants (a low percentage if compared to the 77% found in Russia, 72% in Belgium, 71% in Great-Britain, 67% in Italy and 67% in Spain. But Brazil has a high percentage for this question if compared to Japan’s 15%).
What’s your personal opinion? Is Brazil as hospitable as us Brazilians want to believe?
You might want to read these posts:Brazil attracts more Latin Americans and Tolerant neighbors (sort of)
http://www.advivo.com.br/blog/luisnassif/o-pais-dos-imigrantes#more
Great post Regina!
I think Brazilians are somewhat positive and comfortable with immigration because immigrants are such an insignificant percentage of the population that they still hold a novelty aspect for most Brazilians.
Not the case of US or Germany who see huge groups of immigrants constantly flowing into it’s borders, to the point of changing the country’s cultural habits such is the case of the US with nearly 25 million hispanics.
Ray
Yeah, Ray, I think the average feeling is definitely related to the immigration scale.
It’s nice to hear that most Japanese think they get too few immigrants, seeing as they have practically no immigration! Remember how they kicked out all (well, probably many) of the foreign workers (many Brazilians) during the financial crisis?
I have generally felt welcomed here in Brazil, although I still find it a bit disconcerting when people stare at me when I speak English on the street with my son. After living in New York, and really enjoying the multiculturalism, I must say I miss that living in Bahia. Bahia has tons and tons of local culture, which is great, but really not much in the way of international culture.
One other thing: I think as a ‘western’ immigrant I get more of a pass than the ethnic Chinese who live here in Salvador, I’ve been witness to some pretty blatant resentment and prejudice towards them.
My experience in Brazil as an American expatriate was generally positive. I lived in an “interior city” (Uberlandia) that tends not to receive as many international visitors as the major cities, so the local folks tended to ask really ill-informed questions about life in the U.S. I also ran into quite a few critics of U.S. foreign policy, and I can hardly blame them, but sometimes a few of them made it rather personal.
My ex-roomate Jorge said it best: “Brazilians like foreigners, as long as they are tourists and LEAVE.”
“Legal” immigration is good, so long the foreigners integrate into society. With Integration I mean, you keep your culture but learn and speak the language in public. At home with friends/family you can speak your native language too. Markuzu’s point of Multiculturism, I understand but it creates problems in the long term similar like in Europe and in modern USA and Canada. Multiculturism is (for me) many races living in one place but in public speak one language, honor the one flag, the Brazilian flag, their state flag and local flag, but keep their culture alive (that’s the beauty of Brazil) and keep their native language what they can speak at their society club or at home, where they also mostly speak both languages (Portuguese + their native tongue) That is still happening in Brazil what keeps it strong. If a foreigner doesn’t like that, he or she should leave. very simple. Brazil must never ever copy the US or Europe when it comes to their version of multiculturalism (government translate everything for them in public, nobody understand each other from differnt groups). Why? It’s a total failure, and that’s why those areas have a “cultural” problem (losing their ID).