Local deprivation predicts right-wing hate crime in England

Margherita Belgioioso, Christoph Dworschak, Kristian S. Gleditsch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We argue that community deprivation can increase the risk of right-wing radicalization and violent attacks and that measures of local deprivation can help improve forecasting local hate crime rates. A large body of research stresses how experiences of deprivation can erode the perceived legitimacy of political leaders and institutions, increase alienation, and encourage right-wing radicalization and hate crime. Existing analyses have found limited support for a close relationship between deprivation and radicalization among individuals. We provide an alternative approach using highly disaggregated data for England and show that information on local deprivation can improve predictions of the location of right-wing hate crime attacks. Beyond the ability to predict where right-wing hate crime is likely, our results suggest that efforts to decrease deprivation can have important consequences for political violence, and that targeting structural facilitators to prevent far-right violence ex ante can be an alternative or complement to ex post measures.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0289423
Number of pages13
JournalPLOS ONE
Volume18
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 Sept 2023

Bibliographical note

© 2023 Belgioioso et al.

Keywords

  • Extremism
  • Forecasting
  • Deprivation
  • Hate crime

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