Longitudinal Study of Ethnic Discrimination of Young Bulgarians in the Period 2004-2012

Abstract

Ethnically based discrimination and its relation to ethnic stereotypes have been discussed. Comparative analysis of the main characteristics of the “old”, “biological” or “traditional” with the “new”, “modern” or “symbolic” prejudice (Pettigrew & Meertens, 1995) has been made. The results of a longitudinal study of discriminatory behaviour of young people of Bulgarian origin (n = 942; 347 men and 595 women, mean age 21.3 years) in 5 time intervals: in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012, towards the representatives of ethnic minorities as a whole, Turks and Roma have been presented. The Modern Racism Scale (McConahay, Hardee, & Batts, 1981) was applied in two social contexts: personal and community. The results showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the two substitution contexts in 5 time periods of study. The men discriminated more, in comparison with women, both minorities as a whole, and the group of Roma. The persons surveyed, both with extreme left and with extreme right political orientation, discriminated more in comparison with those with centrist convictions.

Language: Bulgarian