British Journal of Political Science · 2009 · 79 citations · 0 references
Social SciencesSocial PsychologySociologyImmigration StudiesIntergroup RelationsPrejudiceEthnic GroupsEthnic MinoritiesEthnic PrejudiceRaceRacial PrejudiceRacismEthnic Minority ExperiencesEthnic Threat PerceptionImmigrant MinoritiesPerceived Threat Toward ImmigrantsPrejudice Toward Ethnic GroupsRacial AttitudesRacial Threat TheoryResidential Proximity Analysis
How do majority group members in emerging multicultural and multiracial societies respond to the experience of living amidst ethnic diversity? Recent public opinion surveys are analysed to assess the contextual determinants of English whites’ opinions towards ethnic minorities and immigrants. Multilevel analyses reveal that whites’ racial hostility is affected by local ethnic context; however, the direction of this effect depends on which ethnic minority groups reside in the area. Consistent with the contact hypothesis, whites who live in neighbourhoods with relatively large black populations display lower levels of racial hostility than respondents with few black neighbours. However, in line with racial threat theory, residential proximity to Pakistanis and Bangladeshis is associated with more negative attitudes towards ethnic minorities.