Mapping Hate Crime Research in Europe: Trends, Challenges, and Future Directions

This study presents a scoping review of the academic literature on hate crimes in Europe over the past decade. From an initial pool of 2536 studies, 76 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed in depth. The review identifies consistent empirical findings on how broader structural and contextual dynamics – such as terrorist attacks, the refugee crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic – have contributed to increases in hate crimes across European societies. It also confirms widespread agreement on the consequences of hate crimes, including psychological harm, social isolation, and diminished trust in institutions. These findings highlight the need for psychosocial support, more accessible reporting mechanisms, and inclusive victim support services. However, the review also reveals critical gaps in the literature. First, research remains heavily focused on ethnicity- and religion-based hate crimes, often neglecting other affected groups such as LGBT individuals and people with disabilities. An intersectional perspective is needed to capture the full scope of hate crime victimization. Second, the scarcity of cross-national and longitudinal studies limits comparability and generalizability across European contexts. Addressing these challenges requires more inclusive research designs, improved data collection systems, and stronger coordination and knowledge exchange at the European level