National integration and ethnic violence in Western Europe

Abstract

When ethnically distinctive immigrant groups settle in industrial societies, ethnic violence may be expected to increase as a result of the competition promoted by processes of national integration. The relevant evidence for West European countries permits only a tentative evaluation of this hypothesis. The integration of non‐European groups has progressed furthest in the British group of countries, followed by the Nordic, French, German and Italian groups. Ethnic violence appears to be highest in the countries at the head of this list but many relevant variables remain poorly identified.