Scholars have suggested a number of different causes of political tolerance and intolerance. Using data from the 2008 American National Election Studies (ANES), we test seven of the causes frequently mentioned in the literature (age, gender, education, religion, ideology, social capital and perceived threat) while controlling for class and ethnicity. We find that religion, ethnicity and especially ideology explain variation in attitudes toward fringe groups quite well, while class and especially social capital appear to be rather poor predictors of an individual´s level of tolerance. We also find that of our nine independent variables, only gender affected tolerance levels precisely as predicted. For all other independent variables, the relationship with political tolerance is not entirely in line with the predictions of previous research; in some cases, it is even the complete opposite. Thus, our results partially challenge the findings of previous studies and demonstrate the need for further research on political tolerance.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Why examine the causes of political tolerance and intolerance in the United States?
- Literature Review
- Age
- Gender
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This study aims to examine the factors influencing political tolerance and intolerance in the United States, using data from the 2008 American National Election Studies (ANES). It investigates seven frequently cited causes mentioned in the literature, while controlling for class and ethnicity. The study seeks to determine which factors are significant predictors of tolerance levels and to compare these findings with existing research.
- The relationship between age and political tolerance.
- The influence of gender on political tolerance levels.
- The role of religion, ethnicity, and ideology in shaping attitudes toward fringe groups.
- The predictive power of class and social capital in explaining individual tolerance.
- Comparison of current findings with previous research on political tolerance.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Abstract: This study investigates the causes of political tolerance and intolerance in the US using 2008 ANES data. It tests seven factors (age, gender, education, religion, ideology, social capital, perceived threat), controlling for class and ethnicity. The findings show that religion, ethnicity, and particularly ideology are strong predictors of tolerance towards fringe groups. Class and social capital are weak predictors. Only gender's effect on tolerance aligns with prior research; other variables show relationships contrary to previous studies, highlighting the need for further research.
Introduction: The study frames the debate on equal rights for homosexuals within the broader context of political tolerance and intolerance. It highlights the scholarly attention devoted to understanding the causes of these attitudes and introduces the study's approach: reviewing existing literature to identify seven key factors, defining variables and measures, and statistically analyzing their relationships to predict individual tolerance levels. The introduction emphasizes the importance of understanding the causes of political tolerance and intolerance for both normative and academic reasons. It previews the study's methodology and findings, foreshadowing some discrepancies with previous research.
Why examine the causes of political tolerance and intolerance in the United States?: This section justifies the study's focus on the US context. It argues that political tolerance is crucial for healthy democracies and that a lack of it threatens political freedom. The section also underscores the academic need for continued research because of inconsistent findings in previous studies and the potential for changing public attitudes over time. The argument presented emphasizes both normative (the desirability of tolerance for democratic functioning) and empirical (the need to clarify existing research inconsistencies and account for temporal shifts in public opinion) justifications for the research undertaken.
Literature Review: This chapter reviews existing research on political tolerance, noting its long history and evolution. It highlights two main debates: whether tolerance has genuinely increased over time and which factors contribute to or detract from it. The chapter introduces several potential causes of political tolerance frequently mentioned in scholarly work, setting the stage for the hypotheses tested in the main study. The review focuses on the historical development of the field, key debates within it (the temporal trend of tolerance and its causal factors), and the factors that will be investigated in the subsequent empirical analysis. The review synthesizes the existing research on the causes of political tolerance and positions the current study within the broader scholarly context.
Age: This section explores the potential correlation between age and tolerance levels. Existing literature suggests an inverse relationship—older individuals tend to be less tolerant. The section discusses theoretical explanations linking aging to more conservative political attitudes, generational differences in socialization, and age-related psychological changes. However, it also acknowledges critiques questioning the strength and causal nature of this relationship, suggesting methodological issues and confounding variables as potential alternative explanations. Despite these critiques, the section concludes by stating the overwhelming empirical evidence supporting a correlation between age and tolerance, leading to the formulation of the first hypothesis: younger individuals are more tolerant.
Gender: This section examines the influence of gender on political tolerance. It reviews conflicting findings in the literature, with early studies suggesting men are more tolerant than women, and more recent research finding the opposite or no difference. The section explores various theoretical explanations, such as differences in socialization, gender roles, and societal structures. The shifting trends highlighted suggest that societal changes might account for the contradictory findings. The discussion positions the study’s expectation that contemporary data will reveal women to be more tolerant than men.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Political tolerance, political intolerance, American National Election Studies (ANES), ideology, religion, ethnicity, social capital, age, gender, fringe groups, civil liberties, democratic values.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Study of Political Tolerance and Intolerance in the United States
What is the main focus of this study?
This study examines the factors influencing political tolerance and intolerance in the United States, utilizing data from the 2008 American National Election Studies (ANES). It investigates the impact of several key factors on tolerance levels, while controlling for class and ethnicity.
What factors are investigated in this study?
The study investigates seven frequently cited factors: age, gender, education, religion, ideology, social capital, and perceived threat. The analysis controls for class and ethnicity to isolate the effects of these specific variables.
What is the methodology used in this study?
The study employs a quantitative approach, analyzing data from the 2008 ANES to statistically determine the relationship between the identified factors and political tolerance. The analysis aims to identify significant predictors of tolerance levels.
What are the key findings of this study?
The findings reveal that religion, ethnicity, and particularly ideology are strong predictors of tolerance towards fringe groups. Class and social capital show weak predictive power. Interestingly, only gender's effect on tolerance aligns with prior research; other variables show relationships contrary to previous studies.
How does this study compare to previous research?
The study highlights discrepancies between its findings and previous research on political tolerance. For instance, the relationship between age and tolerance, and the influence of other factors like religion and ideology, differ from what has been established in prior studies. This necessitates further research to reconcile these differences.
Why is it important to study political tolerance and intolerance?
Political tolerance is crucial for a healthy democracy. A lack of tolerance threatens political freedom. The study emphasizes both the normative (desirability of tolerance for democratic functioning) and empirical (need to clarify existing research inconsistencies and account for temporal shifts in public opinion) justifications for this research.
What is the context of this study?
The study focuses on the United States, justifying its focus by arguing that understanding political tolerance and intolerance in the US is important due to the inconsistent findings in previous studies and the potential for changing public attitudes over time.
What are the key themes explored in the study?
Key themes include the relationship between age and political tolerance, the influence of gender on tolerance levels, the role of religion, ethnicity, and ideology in shaping attitudes toward fringe groups, the predictive power of class and social capital, and a comparison of current findings with previous research.
What are the key words associated with this study?
Key words include: Political tolerance, political intolerance, American National Election Studies (ANES), ideology, religion, ethnicity, social capital, age, gender, fringe groups, civil liberties, democratic values.
What is included in the provided text preview?
The preview includes the title, table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords of the study. It offers a comprehensive overview of the research undertaken.
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- Michael Neureiter (Autor), 2012, Correlates of Political Tolerance and Intolerance in the United States, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/962210
