Ethnic diversity and intergroup relations among Nigerian adolescents: Testing intergroup contact and political deliberation theories

Abstract

In this study we investigate how local exposure to ethnic diversity is associated with intergroup attitudes and trust among adolescents in Lagos state, Nigeria, a context characterized by political tensions between ethnic groups. Drawing on an original large-scale survey (N = 3118) among final year secondary school students we find that exposure to diversity as such is not associated with stereotyping, but it is positively associated with reduced social distance. Diversity is, however, negatively associated with outgroup trust, ingroup trust, and generalized trust. In line with intergroup contact theory, cross-group friendships are associated with less stereotyping and social distance, and higher outgroup trust. Cross-group friendship also attenuates the negative relation between diversity and generalized trust. In line with political deliberation theory, diversity combined with exposure to political conversations is associated with more positive intergroup attitudes. Political exposure also weakens the negative relation between diversity and generalized trust. Our study contributes to the literature on diversity and its consequences by testing theories from different disciplinary angles (social psychology as well as political science) on multiple attitudinal variables for a unique youth sample in an understudied Sub-Saharan African setting. Our findings support the use of contact and deliberation as policy intervention tools aimed at improving intergroup relations in challenging multi-ethnic environments where diversity has often been associated with negative consequences including violence.