Entrepreneurial survival and attitudes towards the immigrants in the center of Athens: Individual and collective interest or Symbolic Racism?

This paper presents the results of empirical field research carried out by National Centre for Social Research (2008) on a sample of Greek entrepreneurs within the Historical Triangle of Athens (and is spatially defined by Ermou-Stadiou-Piraeus streets). The research objective focuses on the issue of "commerciality-competitiveness and social cohesion". In other words, in matters concerning the professional survival and perceptions of Greek entrepreneurs, in relation to the presence of foreigners in general and the emergence of ethnic enterprises of foreigners in the center of Athens in particular.

The results of the research are interpreted in light of the Symbolic Racism theory on the basis of three different thematic factors: 1) "Personal interest", referring to whether Greek entrepreneurs are able to meet their individual financial needs through their business, (2) "Collective interest", referring to whether entrepreneurs feel that the collective needs and economic interests of Greek entrepreneurs are being met; 3) "Attitudes towards immigrants", concerning the attitudes of respondents to immigrants  in general as well as for the immigrants with whom they work together in particular, but also their attitudes towards the businesses of foreigners in the area where they develop their professional activities. According to the conclusions, Greek entrepreneurs appear moderately optimistic about their present and future in terms of covering their "Personal Interest". Concerning the coverage of "Collective Interest", there is an economic stagnation and recession in their sector, which they attribute to the general economic weakness of citizens, the lack of state support and the state's inability to develop a progressive business policy. Immigrants are not perceived as a threat to the person’s financial interests or collective economic and professional interests but rather as an abstract cultural threat that lowers the value of their work environment, and that of the most central urban commercial space in the capital in general. Symbolic racism is therefore, in part, confirmed. Finally, Greek entrepreneurs do not openly express racist attitudes towards foreigners. However, there are some indications of disguised negative predispositions and a disposition to avoid social proximity to foreigners, factors that form the basis for new forms of racial prejudice, such as Symbolic racism.