Clash of Civilizations—Effective Propaganda or Fear? The Attitude of Polish Internet Users to Islamic Refugees

Abstract

Among the topics that dominate today in the media discourse, migration crisis occupies an important place. There is a broad emotional dispute about whether Poland should accept refugees, and if so, how many of them and how to protect the country against potential terrorist attacks. Questions about patriotism, nationalism, racism, the so-called “multiculturalism,” cultural identity had arisen. Extreme opinions are clearly seen particularly in a cyberspace. The behaviour of its users is the main axis of this article. Fear, a cursory knowledge of the foreign culture, emotionality, unreliable press reports, and incompatibility of the Islamists values with those recognized in European culture—it all adds up to background of the presented social group. The paper is an attempt to describe and explain it scientifically within the context of the Samuel Huntington’s and Feliks Koneczny’s theses.