Explanations for racism,
discrimination & prejudice
Sociological, psychological and
historical explanations
Xenophobia
• Foreigners, immigrants and ethnic minority representatives are seen
as a threat.
• A question of fear for the unknown
• According to Julia Kristeva (a psychoanalyst) this originates in a fear
for the unknown within ourselves, in other words a fear for our own
subconscious.
• According to Agnes Heller (a phenomenological sociologist)
xenophobia originates in a threat towards unquestioned everyday
routines and practices, that build up the identity of an individual. The
foreign questions these routines by following different routines,
normes and practices.
• Social psychologists (Critical Theory: Theodore Adorno) have
presented a theory about the authoritarian personalty, which has
difficulties in managing uncertainty and tends consequently to
simplify.
Socioeconomic and cultural threat
• A fear that ”the other” will take ”our” jobs,
appartments and change ”our” culture
• In Finland and in other Nordic countries the
socioeconomic threat has been exeperienced
most among loweducated workers (Jaakkola)
• A ”rational” attitude in questions of resource
competition
• Closure, i.e. monopolisation of specific positions
to particular groups, is a common feature
(Weber)
Relative deprivation
• Comparative position of individual is
unsatisfactory (Samuel Stouffer: The Americal
Soldier)
• Difference between what is wished and what is
realized
• Unsecure economic situation and the lowering of
status (Hernes & Knudsen: Svart på vitt)
• Used to be middle class problem, now working
class problem.
Propaganda and media influence
• Yellow press, garbage journalism
• Populistic political parties
• Propaganda not opposed by
opinionleaders
• Silent majority
Modernity: Anxiety thesis &
Aggression
• Social bonds are weakened as a consequence of the
individualisation of the modern society. Isolation is the result and this
causes anxiety and unsecurity.
• Individuals search for new identification within the national society,
which is defined negatively in relation to the foreign that ”belong
elsewhere”.
• New bonds between the individual and the nation are created
through racism which identifies ”the other” as a threat.
• Extreme right offer political programs and organisations that create
new identification and certainty.
• Nationalism becomes a new ”civic religion”
• Parsons: Aggressivity thesis – The modern society is
compartmentalised (division of labour between men and women)
and masculine roles do not permit expressivity and feelings ->
aggressivity which is directed towards the other
Cyclical thesis
• These ideologies become stronger during
economic recession, followed by
unemployment and where the position of
the middle classes is threatened
• An ideology among other ideologies:
Racism is always present and may
become over active in particular situations
(Miles)