What is the term for prejudice against or fear of foreigners or strangers?

The term that accurately describes prejudice against or fear of foreigners or strangers is xenophobia. This concept encompasses a range of negative attitudes, emotions, or behaviors directed towards people from other countries or cultures. Xenophobia can manifest in various forms, including discrimination, hostility, or even violence against those perceived as outsiders.

The other terms relate to different concepts: nativism refers more specifically to the preference for native-born individuals over newcomers, often accompanied by a sense of protecting a nation's cultural identity; globalism captures the idea of interconnectivity and the movement toward more global cooperation and understanding, which is in contrast to the exclusionary sentiment of xenophobia; isolationism refers to a foreign policy approach of avoiding involvement in international affairs, focusing inward instead of engaging with foreign nations, which is also not necessarily tied to prejudice or fear.