Growing ethnic diversity and social trust in European societies

The article investigates the relationship between ethnic diversity and social trust at both the national and local level. As we are particularly concerned with how the rise of new ethnic groups affects trust, the investigation takes place within a European context in which ethnic diversity today is primarily related to immigration from non-western countries. The data originate primarily from the World Value Study (WVS) and the first and second round of the European Social Survey. In contrast to some studies, but consistent with others, we find no general relationships between ethnic diversity, measured in terms of the size of non-western immigrants, and trust either at the country or local level after having checked for other possible sources of influence. There are, furthermore, no indications of trust being influenced by the rise of new ethnic groups or a multiethnic society. All told, ethnic diversity measured in terms of the size of non-western immigrants does not appear to be associated with lower levels of trust in Europe. It may be true in some areas and some countries, but it is not a general phenomenon and problem.