WP219: Religion and prejudice: Micro-level evidence from Africa

While scholarship on religious tolerance has grown, little is known about how (non)religious identity  shapes prejudice in highly religious societies, particularly in the Global South.

This exploratory study  addresses that gap using Afrobarometer survey data from 39 African countries (N≈147,000) to  examine the relationship between religious affiliation and willingness to accept neighbours of  different faiths. Contrary to expectations drawn from secularisation and pluralism theories, I find  that individuals without religious affiliation are significantly more likely to express religious prejudice  than adherents of Islam, Christianity, traditional religions, and other faiths.

This might be because in  societies where religion is culturally hegemonic, non-religious individuals may experience symbolic  exclusion or anticipate value imposition, fuelling outgroup aversion.

These findings extend theories  of boundary-making and secular minority experience by highlighting how dominant religiosity can  structure exclusionary attitudes even among individuals presumed to be more tolerant. 

Read more on the original article : https://www.afrobarometer.org/publication/wp219-religion-and-prejudice-micro-level-evidence-from-africa/