Editorial [International Journal of Emotional Education, 6(2)]

Abstract

The recent upheavals in North Africa and the Middle East have resulted in an influx of immigrants crossing the Mediterranean to European shores; while in 2013 the figure stood at 60,000, this year so far the number has more than doubled at 130,000. Migration has been also one of the main issues which influenced voting in the European elections held earlier this year, showing an increase in its importance in 19 member states since the last elections five years ago. The rise of rightist movements and political parties with their anti-immigration policies in various European countries, has also been another issue of concern in this respect. The first paper in this issue on sensitizing children to the social and emotional mechanisms underlying racism, is thus very welcome in this context. Sofia Trilvia and her colleagues (Greece) present the results of an intervention programme to help primary school students identify emotions associated with prejudice, discrimination and stereotypical thinking, understand similarities and differences between people, and develop perspective taking and empathic skills in relation to diverse others.