This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Schlueter, E. Articles by Wagner, U. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Regional Differences Matter

Examining the Dual Influence of the Regional Size of the Immigrant Population on Derogation of Immigrants in Europe

Social Science Research Center, Berlin, Germany, schlueter{at}wzb.eu

Ulrich Wagner

Philipps-University Marburg, Germany, wagner1{at}staff.uni-marburg.de

In this study, we examine which role the size of the immigrant population plays in explaining immigrant derogation within and between European regions. We draw upon group threat- and intergroup contact theory to consider the following question: does a larger size of immigrant population increase perceived group threat and thereby lead to greater immigrant derogation? Or does it increase intergroup contact and thereby ameliorate immigrant derogation? We test the empirical adequacy of these alternative suggestions using regionalized European Social Survey 2002 and official data which will be analyzed by means of multilevel structural equation modeling. Within regions, our results confirm that perceived group threat increases subsequent immigrant derogation. Likewise, intergroup contact reduces perceived group threat and thereby amends such derogation of immigrants. Between regions, our findings show that a larger size of the immigrant population increases both greater perceived group threat and intergroup contact. At the same time, the effects of perceived group threat and intergroup contact on immigrant derogation resemble those found within regions. In sum, these results lend evidence to the generalizability of both group threat- and contact effects. Implications of these findings for future research are discussed.

Key Words: comparative research • European Social Survey • group threat • intergroup contact • multilevel structural equation modeling • prejudice

International Journal of Comparative Sociology, Vol. 49, No. 2-3, 153-173 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0020815207088910


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?