Ethnic competition thesis
Ethnic competition thesis also known as ethnic competition theory or ethnic competition hypothesis is an academic theory that posits that individuals support far-right political parties because they wish to reduce competition from immigrants over scarce resources such as jobs, housing and welfare benefits. [1] According to this theory, support for the far right should be higher in areas where there are more immigrants and more lower-educated and lower-skilled voters who would face competition from them.
Several studies have found support for ethnic competition thesis. A 2011 study by Jens Rydgren and Patrick Ruth found some support for the theory in that support for the far-right Sweden Democrats party was higher in areas where there were a higher number of immigrants.[2] However other studies have questioned the link between the number of refugees, number of asylum seekers, or proportion of non-citizens and people born abroad and the success of the far-right.[3]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Rydgren, J. and Ruth, P. (2011) Voting for the Radical Right in Swedish Municipalities: Social Marginality and Ethnic Competition?, Scandinavian Political Studies, 34/3: 209
- ^ Rydgren, J. and Ruth, P. (2011) Voting for the Radical Right in Swedish Municipalities: Social Marginality and Ethnic Competition?, Scandinavian Political Studies, 34/3: 202
- ^ Norris P. 2005. Radical Right: Parties and Electoral Competition. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press
