Expert: Poles see migrants as second-class citizens, they’re puzzled by influx of migrants

Poles are not happy to see newcomers on their territory, migrants are second- and third-class people for them – as noted by political scientist Aleksei Belyaev, the Dean of the Belarusian State University’s Journalism Department, in his talk with Alfa Radio, when explaining the causes of the migration crisis in Poland

According to the expert, the Polish mentality is characterised by a great lack of friendliness towards newcomers.

“Poles used to think of themselves as a great nation. The idea of their own greatness has often led them into a dead end and has repeatedly caused the disappearance of the Polish state over the past 200-300 years. Because of their ‘Greater Poland’ arrogance, the citizens of the neighbouring country put migrants, especially Ukrainians and escaped Belarusians, on the level of second- or third-class people. Serious inter-ethnic conflicts arise on this ground. As a result, Polish society is at a crossroads: what to do with the huge influx of migrants?” Mr. Belyaev explained.

The political scientist added that Poland has always been a rather xenophobic state: Poland has always opposed the EU’s migration policy and refused to accept refugees according to quotas. They enter European territory mainly through Spain, Italy, and Greece. There have been very few attempts to enter from Belarus.

According to Mr. Belyaev, it is not so much migrants from the Middle East that the Poles have to worry about, but Ukrainians.

“Today, one million citizens of Ukraine live in Poland. With each escalation at the front, Ukrainians begin to flee the country. The attitude of most Poles towards refugees and displaced persons is not very good and is unlikely to change in the near future,” the expert believes.