ABSTRACT Middle childhood represents a crucial developmental stage in which ethnic biases often emerge and solidify, potentially leading to peer exclusion or harassment. Recent research highlights the role of moral disengagement in ethnic‐related harassment and identifies intercultural competences as crucial for counteracting prejudicial peer behaviours. However, studies examining the interplay of these constructs in elementary school children remain scarce. A developmentally appropriate, AI‐supported instrument was designed to assess ethnic prejudice, moral disengagement, and intercultural sensitivity among children aged 9–12 years. One‐shot prompting technique was applied, using a previously validated scenario‐based task with experts' instructions guiding the LLM's behaviour explicitly, to achieve clarity and focus. The instrument was piloted with 232 students. Participants generally perceived the task as engaging and thought‐provoking, reporting self‐reflection about their interactions with culturally diverse peers. Beyond its research utility, the tool holds promise as a sociopedagogical resource to foster intercultural understanding and inclusive teaching practices in elementary education.

ABSTRACT Studies on the contextual setting of hate crime over the past few decades have documented a host of neighborhood-level factors conducive to intergroup conflict. However, there remains limited work that takes a more longitudinal approach to hate crime occurrence despite ecological frameworks that stress dynamic spatial processes in predicting bias crime. We combine facets of semi-parametric group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) with exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) to clarify distinct trends of bias crime across 272 neighborhoods in Los Angeles County from 2003 through 2023 and their localized spatial occurrence. We likewise studied core community-level features that characterized the neighborhood trajectories of racially motivated crime in the county, finding important dimensions by neighborhood racial composition, mobility, and disadvantage. Our findings offer guidance for future studies on ‘spaces of hate’ as a continual spatial project.

Violent disputes and ethnic clashes have been a common phenomenon in plural societies over the years. Globally, these incidents of ethnic division have been manifested in power politics and control of resources, hence posing a major challenge to unity and social cohesion in these societies. In Kenya threats to ethnic diversity are predominantly ascribed to political instigation, land disputes, ethnic divisions, demonstrations, subsequent clashes, and riots, which are common occurrences during each political campaign season. Uasin Gishu County boasts of a diverse population comprising various ethnic groups has been an epicenter of ethnic conflicts in Kenya for many years. This study sought to put into perspective challenges of ethnic diversity in the county in the face horizontal inequalities which has been a major factor for ethnic tensions in Kenya. The study adopted Interpretivist philosophy. The study applied descriptive and historical research designs. The study found out that there were a myriad challenges towards ethnic diversity amid horizontal inequalities which included high levels of Politicization of ethnicity, Corruption and Impunity of Public Officers, misuse of various media and technology platforms, Institutionalized discrimination, historical injustices and marginalization. The study concluded that there was a combination of factors that made it challenging to manage horizontal inequalities and ethnic conflicts in Uasin Gishu County. These factors created ethno-political competition among major ethnic groups in the county, thereby leading to an environment in which ethnic animosity thrived over national identity and Unity hence incessant ethnic tension and violence in the county. The study recommended a multi-pronged stakeholder approach to address the challenge of horizontal inequalities.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are key risk factors for major depressive disorder (MDD), but their associations with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) remain unclear, particularly after accounting for unmeasured confounding, such as shared genetic and familial environmental factors. To examine the association between ACEs and TRD while accounting for unmeasured confounding within families. This cohort study used a co-twin control design and was based on 2 Swedish Twin Registry cohorts: the Study of Twin Adults: Genes and Environment (STAGE) and the Young Adult Twins in Sweden Study (YATSS). The sample included twins born from 1959 to 1992 who completed surveys in 2005 to 2006 (for the STAGE cohort) or in 2013 to 2014 (for the YATSS cohort). Both cohorts were linked to Sweden's National Patient Register and Prescribed Drug Register for follow-up until the end of 2016. Data analysis was conducted from September to November 2024. ACEs, which were assessed using 7 yes or no items adapted from the Life Stressor Checklist-Revised: emotional neglect or abuse, physical neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, rape, hate crime, and witnessing family violence before age 19 years. TRD, which was defined as MDD diagnosed clinically or meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) criteria based on self-reported symptoms and having had at least 2 antidepressant switches of adequate duration (≥6 weeks) with no more than 14 weeks between consecutive prescriptions. The full cohort included 21 192 twins, among whom 17 814 (10 205 females [57.3%]; mean [SD] age, 32.10 [7.82] years) were included in the main analysis. A total of 5558 individuals (31.2%) reported exposure to at least 1 ACE, and 996 (5.6%) reported 3 or more ACEs. The prevalence of TRD was 1.3% (n = 230) overall. Each additional ACE exposure was associated with increased odds of TRD (odds ratio [OR], 1.69; 95% CI, 1.56-1.84). In co-twin control analyses, the association remained within monozygotic and dizygotic twins (OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.30-3.83). Among ACE types, physical neglect (OR, 5.73; 95% CI, 3.75-8.75) and sexual abuse (OR, 5.01; 95% CI, 3.47-7.23) showed the greatest magnitude of associations with TRD. In this cohort study, ACE exposure was associated with an increased risk of TRD even after accounting for unmeasured familial confounding. The findings highlight the importance of preventing ACEs and incorporating ACE history into clinical assessment to identify individuals with MDD who may be at elevated risk for treatment resistance.

Nigeria’s persistent insecurity, marked by insurgency, farmer–herder conflicts, and banditry, has fostered the proliferation of vigilante groups. In January 2024, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore launched the Fulani Nomad Volunteer Vigilante Group (NVVG) to address cattle rustling, kidnapping, and rural insecurity. This study interrogates the drivers, political context, and potential implications of its formation. Anchored on social contract theory and state fragility framework, it argues that state failure to provide security and equitable justice fuels ethnically aligned security initiatives. Data was obtained through qualitative documentary analysis of media reports, policy documents, academic literature, and expert commentaries. It revealed that while the NVVG may provide localized protection and employment, it risks legitimizing illegality, fueling arms proliferation, exacerbating ethnic tensions, and undermining state authority. The article concludes that without robust regulation and oversight, ethnically based vigilante formations could deepen Nigeria’s insecurity and fragment national cohesion.

In this study, we examine if and how exposure to hate crimes is associated with the method of vote utilized by African American voters in the 2016 general election. Specifically, we are interested in how exposure to heightened levels of hate crimes at the county-level influences African Americans’ decision to vote-by-mail (VBM) as opposed to in-person (either early or election day voting). We examine the question using the 2016 Collaborative Multiracial Post-Election Survey and FBI county-level hate crime data (2013–2016). The FBI Uniform Crime Report hate crime dataset provides information on the physical location of the hate crime events. We merge the hate crime data with the CMPS data to examine if and how heightened rates of hate crime affect choice of voting mode. Consistent with expectations, we find that African Americans living in areas with higher levels of hate crimes are more likely to vote-by- mail rather than in person, potentially as a way to avoid the risk of encountering hate crimes.

A recently developed nonpartisan authoritarian aggression scale (NAAS) has a robust nomological network that includes attitudes toward women and LGBTQ+ individuals. The current research was meant to further validate the scale by demonstrating its ability to predict unique variance in attitudes relating to sex crimes (i.e., rape myth acceptance) and anti-transgender hate crimes when controlling for potentially relevant cognitive (i.e., need for cognition, intolerance of uncertainty) and cultural (i.e., Christian nationalism) variables. A sample of 100 U.S. participants was recruited from Prolific and completed an online survey via Qualtrics. A series of correlation analyses showed that the NAAS was significantly related to all of the other predictor variables as well as both the sex and hate crime outcomes at the bivariate level, adding to the nomological network of the NAAS. Multiple regression analyses showed that the combination of predictors explained significant variance in both outcomes and that the NAAS was the only predictor to explain unique variance in both sex crime and anti-transgender hate crime attitudes. The results imply that authoritarian aggression poses a danger for women, transgender individuals, and victims of sex crimes and hate crimes more broadly. Future research should examine ways of attenuating authoritarian aggression in individuals and communities to protect those who are vulnerable due to their sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Underreporting Rate in Hate Crimes in Spain: Why is so High?

Farmer-herder conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa have become a significant security threat. This nature of conflict is driven by climate change, resource scarcity, land tenure insecurity, and ethnic tensions. However, the nature of conflicts may be escalated or provoked by other historical factors. The purpose of this study is to investigate the nature of conflicts and the impacts of conflict between the Borana, Somali and Meru communities. This study was guided by social learning and conflict transformation theories. The study adopted a qualitative research design to assess farmer-pastoralist conflict between the Borana and Meru communities. The study collected qualitative data. The study targeted 44,490 persons living in Isiolo South. The participants in this study included residents, police officers, administrative leaders, and six nongovernment organisations (NGO) representatives. The participants were collected using a structured interview schedule. Data collected was analysed using thematic analysis. The study identified resource competition, land disputes, cultural practices, and livelihoods as key drivers of farmer-pastoralist conflicts in Isiolo South. These conflicts were fuelled by the commercialisation of cattle raids, political influence, and weak governance. The study further found that displacement, loss of livelihoods, and breakdown of social cohesion were social implications of farmer-pastoralist conflicts identified in Borana and Meru communities’ conflicts. The study found that intercommunal conflict between the Borana and Meru communities is driven by culturally rooted cattle raiding, which has evolved into a commercial and politically influenced activity.This study recommends strengthening local peace committees and intercommunity dialogue frameworks to build peace and prevail over disputes emerging from grazing and water resources, especially during the drought-induced migration.

Abstract We assess the degree of persistence for 36 U.S. states’ hate crime rates using fractional integration. For 9 states the hate crime rate exhibits mean reversion. The hate crime rate tends to an upward trend for 5 states (possibly reflecting increased hate crime reporting/compliance through time) and for 3 states there is evidence that the hate crime rate reverts to a downward trend. This is consistent with an evolving natural rate over the sample for these 8 states. For 17 states law enforcement expenditures aimed at deterrence will at best lower offending in the short run because the hate crime will return to its constant or evolving natural rate in the long run. Corrective policies designed to change the natural rate are recommended for these states. The results for the District of Columbia and Utah are ambiguous, and for the remaining 17 states there is no reversion to a natural hate crime rate.

This paper analyzes the inconsistent legal responses within the EU and international systems to hate crimes against Muslims, especially incidents involving desecration or insults toward the Holy Quran. It highlights the growing tension between freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and protections against hate speech—three rights often treated separately rather than in an interconnected manner. Due to the absence of harmonized legal standards, significant protection gaps persist, disproportionately affecting Muslim communities. By comparing national laws, EU instruments, ECtHR case law, and UN standards, the paper identifies approaches for better balancing these rights. It ultimately calls for clearer and more coherent legal frameworks that safeguard both the dignity of religious minorities and fundamental freedoms.

ABSTRACT This research paper examines safety perceptions among Jewish minorities at European places of worship (PoWs) between October 2023 and April 2024. The study utilizes PROTONE survey data from Belgium (N = 571), Germany (N = 734), Spain (N = 1198), and Italy (N = 895), specifically comparing 79 Jewish and 3,318 non-Jewish respondents. Qualitative components include 43 interviews with faith leaders (including 16 Rabbis) and five focus groups conducted in Brussels, Berlin, Rome, and Madrid. Grounded in postsecularism, vulnerability assessment models, and securitization theories, the research explores how threats and security measures shape feelings of insecurity. Key findings indicate that violent attacks and property damage strongly predict perceived unsafety. Comparative analysis reveals that Jewish respondents perceive significantly higher levels of anti-Semitic hostility and hate crimes than non-Jewish groups perceive regarding their own communities. While positive community and authority relations marginally mitigate fear, structural vulnerabilities like outdated infrastructure persist. Attitudes toward security vary; CCTV is universally accepted, but armed guards raise concerns about carization. Generational differences appear, with younger Jewish individuals reporting notably higher anxiety and avoidance behaviors. The study contextualizes these findings within broader socio-cultural and political processes, highlighting the dual role of Jewish PoWs as essential and sacred sites for spiritual fulfillment and robust local communal resilience.

Migration processes in Kyrgyzstan during the period 2015-2025 have had a significant impact on the religious landscape, reinforcing both traditional practices and the risks of radicalization. The author of the article analyzes key aspects, including the growth of Islamization among migrants in Russia, return migration accompanied by increased religiosity (including Salafi influences), demographic shifts in the ethno-religious composition, and state restrictions on freedom of religion. Based on data from the IOM, the World Bank, USCIRF reports, and national statistics, several trends are identified: the return of migrants in 2020–2021 contributed to the expansion of informal religious groups; by 2025, new legislation on religion (entering into force in January) criminalized unauthorized religious practices, affecting returnee migrants. Regional disparities are most evident in the southern regions (Osh and Jalal-Abad), where migration intensifies ethnic and religious tensions. The article recommends measures aimed at the integration of returnees and the monitoring of radicalization in order to preserve the secular character of the state.

The main aim of the study is to identify the training needs of juvenile justice professionals working with Muslim minors and young people. The Italian juvenile justice system faces numerous challenges in protecting the well-being of young people of Islamic faith under its care. These individuals, often subjected to psychological violence due to the double stigma of being both immigrants and Muslims, may experience low levels of well-being. Combined with the psychological stress of arrest and detention, this can increase their vulnerability. In the absence of adequate protective factors, these conditions may facilitate a path toward criminal careers, from which disengagement is particularly difficult. An online questionnaire was administered to 74 helping professionals (50% response rate) operating in custodial and non-custodial facilities of the Juvenile Justice Center of Sicily Region (Italy), who work with young people and young adults of Islamic faith. Nearly half of operators (45.9%) self-reported poor or sufficient multicultural competences. The most critical training needs identified were intercultural communication (73%), psychological support (68%) and intercultural approaches (68%). Language barriers and ethnic prejudice emerged as the primary challenges for young Muslims (76% each), followed by cultural identity issues (57%). Operators reported limited access to cultural mediators (mentioned by 75.5% as a barrier) and insufficient collaboration with local Islamic associations. Only 20.3% of respondents indicated adequate institutional provisions for religious practices (halal food, prayer spaces and spiritual care). The study's findings were not nationally representative. Juvenile justice in Italy varies significantly between regions due to differences in available resources and the specific characteristics of migration flows. However, Sicily hosts four of Italy's 17 juvenile detention facilities and serves as a primary entry point for migration flows from Africa. Furthermore, while sharing fundamental principles with other European countries, the Italian system has distinctive features that make international comparisons challenging. Based on the findings, the Universities of Padua, Verona, Bari and Palermo, together with the Department of Juvenile and Community Justice, signed a letter of intent in February 2025 to define collaboration modalities and initiate an operational agreement. Such initiatives can serve as protective factors for young Muslims' well-being, fostering individualized interventions and integrated support. This contribution provides a snapshot of the training needs of practitioners working with Muslim young people. At present, there are no other similar studies in Italy; in fact, it has also been authorized by the Department of Juvenile and Community Justice, which is headquartered in Rome (Italy).

Personal experiences, even when recounted as autobiographical novels, can deepen our understanding of the past, as they present a lived history of real events. In the novel De două mii de ani (For Two Thousand Years), Iosef Mendel Hechter, using the literary pseudonym Mihail Sebastian, recounts his experience as a young Jewish intellectual, born and raised in Romania, in a society divided by ethnic tensions driven by ultra-nationalism and anti-Semitism. Our study aims to critically examine, through a historical perspective, the socio-political realities depicted by the author, the collective mentality, and the typological stereotypes of his fictional characters. These reflect the actual choices and paths taken by Romanian Jews in their responses to the anti-Semitic pressures of the era. We believe that adopting this less frequently explored perspective will enrich both our understanding of that period and the depth of the novel itself. Thus, autobiographical literature and history engage in a meaningful dialogue, where microhistory, represented by the individual experience of the main character, Ștefan Valeriu, can verify or refine macrohistory, particularly the social, political, and economic context in which interwar Romanian society developed.

ObjectivesUnacceptable experiences (UEs) during undergraduate studies and the associated emotional and academic impact have not been rigorously evaluated in the Canadian context. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of UEs and examine their associations with mental health and academic outcomes in a diverse sample of Canadian undergraduate students.MethodsUndergraduates attending Queen's University completed the U-Flourish Student Well-Being Survey at the beginning and end of each academic year from 2021/2022 to 2023/2024. Validated self-report measures included the GAD-7 (anxiety), PHQ-9 (depression), C-SSRS (suicidal thoughts and behaviours) and WEMWBS-7 (well-being). UEs reported over the academic year included: discrimination, sexual violence/harassment, bullying, hate crimes and physical assault. Multivariable regression analyses examined associations between UEs and student mental health outcomes and cumulative grade-point average (GPA) abstracted from the university database.ResultsNearly one-third (28.9%; range = 27.0-30.1% across years) of students (n = 2,948) reported experiencing at least one UE over the academic year. Discrimination (14.6%) and sexual violence/harassment (14.4%) was reported most frequently, followed by bullying/harassment (10.6%), hate crimes (5.0%) and physical assault (3.2%). UEs were highest in students who identified as non-binary gender (51.6%), 2SLGBTQIA + (39.9%) and as having a lifetime mental illness (41.2%). Each UE increased the risk of screening positive for anxiety and depression over the academic year by 10-19% and 14-40%, respectively. Students reporting UEs were also more likely (13-72%) to report having suicidal thoughts and/or behaviours over the academic year, particularly those reporting sexual violence (RR:1.72; 95% CI:1.45-2.05). Sexual violence, bullying, and hate crimes were associated with lower average cumulative GPA in first year.ConclusionUEs were commonly reported by undergraduate students, especially in minoritised subgroups, and associated with mental health concerns and academic difficulties. These findings highlight the need for further research to inform universal and targeted prevention and early intervention initiatives.

ABSTRACT Hate crimes, characterized by their severity and the harm inflicted on marginalized groups, require specialized intervention within the prison system. This study examines the psychosocial characteristics of 33 offenders (extreme right-wing, extreme left-wing, Latino gangs, or non-affiliated) using self-report questionnaires. Findings reveal significant social, criminological, and psychological differences, highlighting the complexity of perpetrator profiles. Consequently, prison administrations should tailor treatment programs to address the distinct characteristics of offenders and their specific group affiliations. This approach aims to effectively target criminogenic needs and contribute to the prevention of recidivism, ensuring more effective rehabilitation within correctional settings.

This study aims to describe and analyze the transformation process from maritime empires to nation-states in Southeast Asia, as well as the factors that drove it and its impact on regional societies. The study uses a literature study method by collecting and analyzing data from various relevant primary and secondary sources. The results show that Southeast Asia has a long history of maritime empires such as Srivijaya, Majapahit, and Malacca, which became centers of trade, the spread of religion, and the formation of early social structures. The transformation to nation-states was influenced by the influx of European influence, the growth of nationalism, and changes in economic structures. The transformation process included changes in the formation of national borders, government systems, the development of state institutions, as well as changes in social structures, the spread of education, and shifts in cultural values. The impacts of the transformation included increased state sovereignty, economic development, and improvements in the quality of life for the people, but also brought challenges such as ethnic tensions, corruption, and socioeconomic inequality. This study concludes that the transformation process is a complex journey that shapes the characteristics of modern nation-states in Southeast Asia today.

This study examines motivations for participating in the understudied Indonesian riots of May 1998 targeting the ethnic Chinese minority, using an integrative framework addressing intergroup, intragroup and individual factors. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 31 participants (26 male, 5 female), all aged over 35 and involved in violent acts during the riots, in which thousands of homes and businesses were looted or destroyed, and hundreds of people were raped or murdered. Thematic analysis revealed motivations at three levels: intergroup (ethnic prejudice, animosity towards security forces), intragroup (conformity, fear of missing out) and individual (thrill-seeking, need for significance, greed, impulsivity). Narratives illustrate how these factors interact within a context of socio-political and economic upheaval. Most participants cited motivations at the intragroup and individual levels, with fewer referencing intergroup factors or reporting a single level of motivation. Conformity (an intragroup factor) was reported by all participants. This research highlights the complex interplay of psychological and social dynamics driving collective ethnic violence.

This article explores hate crime targeting three specific religious groups in the United Kingdom: Muslims, Jews and Hindus. Drawing on qualitative interviews with victims, the research considers both hate crimes and noncriminal incidents such as bias and discrimination. The central aim is to examine how individuals from these groups perceive and respond to their experiences of victimization. The article presents data from interviews with 30 participants and three focus groups, focusing particularly on the participants’ immediate reactions to incidents of hate crime. The research identifies both similarities and differences in how each group responded at the time of the incident. Participants described their immediate reactions in one of four ways: inaction (outwardly not reacting), seeking some form of recourse, verbally confronting the perpetrator or retaliating with violence. Notably, none of the Jewish or Hindu participants reported responding with verbal confrontation, retaliation or physical aggression; their typical response was inaction. In contrast, Muslim participants exhibited a broader range of immediate responses, including verbal confrontation, physical retaliation and seeking recourse. This article is the first to offer insight into the varied immediate responses to hate crime among these religious communities in the United Kingdom.