Global identification, xenophobia and globalisation: A cross-national exploration

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• International Sociology
• Globalization Studies

Background:

• Globalization significantly impacts social identity and intergroup relations.
• Understanding global identification is crucial for addressing xenophobia in diverse societies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between global identification and xenophobic attitudes.
• To examine the moderating role of country-level globalization on this relationship.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 124 national samples across 86 countries (N=154,760).
• Employed three cross-national surveys: International Social Survey Program (2013), European Values Study (2008), and World Values Survey (2008).
• Applied psychological social-identity framework and sociological considerations of globalization's contextual impact.

Main Results:

• Global identification was negatively linked to xenophobia across countries.
• The strength of this negative relationship was moderated by the country's level of globalization.
• Higher globalization levels amplified the xenophobic-reducing effect of global identification.

Conclusions:

• Global identification serves as an inclusive social identity, mitigating xenophobic attitudes.
• Globalization acts as a crucial contextual factor, enhancing the positive impact of global citizenship identification.
• Findings underscore the importance of fostering global identification in an increasingly interconnected world.