Compatibility of Ethnic and National Identifications under Multicultural Policies

• In Event: 1166 - Cross-National Sociology

Abstract

Immigrants’ national identifications and ethnic identifications have been assumed to contradict each other. Based on this assumption, anti-multiculturalists have criticised multiculturalism which may increase ethnic identifications and in turn decrease national identifications. However, while studies in psychology generally support this assumption, under the condition where national identifications are conceptualised as inclusive, in an environment in which national identifications are characterised as inclusive and diverse, ethnic identifications may not necessarily contradict to national identifications. The author hypothesises that in a country where multicultural policies are tolerant, immigrants’ ethnic and national identifications are compatible. To test this hypothesis, European Social Survey 2014 are analysed with multilevel modelling. The results support the hypothesis, in a country with tolerant multicultural policies the ethnic and national identifications are positively associated, while in a country with strict policies the identifications are negatively related.

Author

• Akira Igarashi, Tohoku University