Explaining Variation in Social Distance from Religious Out-Groups: A Cross-National Study of Muslims in Minority Contexts

Social scientific studies have sought to characterize and explain the state of prejudice toward different religious groups in the United States, and Muslims have increasingly been the objects of this exploration since 9/11. However, few studies have explored religious out-group bias among Muslims, particularly outside the US context. Using a representative cross-national sample, this study seeks to explain variation in religious out-group bias among Muslims in minority contexts around the world. Theories of religion, as both a social identity and an institution, and religious discrimination are explored as predictors of social distance. Results show institutional religion and religious discrimination to be significant predictors of social distance. Further findings indicate institutional religion mediates the relationship between state religious discrimination and religious out-group bias among Muslims in minority contexts.