What is "nativism"

Nativism \Na"tiv*ism\, n.

1. The disposition to favor the native inhabitants of a country, in preference to immigrants from foreign countries.

2. (Philos.) The doctrine of innate ideas, or that the mind possesses forms of thought independent of sensation.

U.S. anti-immigrant movement, 1845, from native (adj.) + -ism. Later used in other contexts. Related: Nativist.

n. 1 (context chiefly US English) a policy of favoring native-born inhabitants over immigrants 2 the policy of perpetuating the culture of the natives of a colonised country 3 (context philosophy English) the doctrine that some skills or abilities are innate and not learned

1. n. the policy of perpetuating native cultures (in opposition to acculturation)

2. (philosophy) the philosophical theory that some ideas are innate

Nativism may refer to:

• Nativism (politics), a term used by scholars to refer to ethnocentric beliefs relating to immigration and nationalism
• Nativism (psychology), a concept in psychology and philosophy which asserts certain concepts are "native" or in the brain at birth
• Linguistic nativism, a theory that the ability to learn grammar is hard-wired into the brain
• Innatism, the philosophical position that minds are born with knowledge
• Native religion, ethnic or regional religious customs

Nativism is the political position of supporting a favoured status for certain established inhabitants of a nation as compared to claims of newcomers or immigrants. According to Fetzer, (2000) opposition to immigration is common in many countries because of issues of national, cultural, and religious identity. The phenomenon has been studied especially in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States, as well as Europe in recent years, where immigration is seen as lowering the wages of the less well paid natives. Thus nativism has become a general term for ' opposition to immigration' based on fears that the immigrants will distort or spoil existing cultural values. In situations where immigrants greatly outnumber the original inhabitants, nativistic movements can allow cultural survival.

In scholarly studies nativism is a standard technical term. The term is typically not accepted by those who hold this political view, however. Dindar (2010) wrote "nativists...do not consider themselves as nativists. For them it is a negative term and they rather consider themselves as 'Patriots.'" Anti-immigration is a more neutral term for opponents of immigration.