Electoral System Effects On Anti-muslim Sentiments In Western Europe

• Main Author: Saleemi, Asmara
• Other Authors: Ishiyama, John
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: University of North Texas 2011
• Subjects: Anti-Muslim; elections; far right; institution; Western Europe; voting; rules; election laws; Islam
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc103386/

The purpose of this thesis is to answer the question, why is there a variation in anti-Muslim sentiments across Western Europe? There is existing literature on individual and country-level variable s to explain why prejudice exists, but this research examines the impact of political institutions on anti-Muslim sentiments. Based on new institutionalism theory, electoral systems can shape public attitudes by providing far-right parties a platform to put their concerns on the agenda, and these parties promote anti-Muslim popular sentiments. The results of this analysis support this argument in that the larger the average district magnitude in a country, the greater the anti-Muslim sentiments. The findings also show that an increase in far-right party vote-share also covaries with an increase in anti-Muslim sentiments.