Ethnic minority and willingness for integration in a deeply divided society: The intergroup perspectives

Abstract Previous research in the ethnic and migration studies domain made little scientific attempts to understand willingness for integration. This study aimed to identify factors that shape ethnic minority's willingness for collective and individual integration and factors that shape ethnic majority's willingness to collectively and individually integrate members of ethnic minority. Data were obtained from the 2021 "Still Playing by the Rules" nationwide survey conducted in Israel (N Jewish = 1,501; N Arab = 697) and analyzed using linear regression models. The results show that better image of the counter population, higher perceived quality of interethnic relations, and a frequent obtaining of instrumental help from members of the counter population were associated with greater willingness for each type of integration in both Jewish and Arab samples. The results provide support for the intergroup perspectives employed in the study. The results imply that the willingness for integration (from the minority side) or willingness to integrate members of ethnic minority (from the majority side) might be predicted by the cognitive (perception the other), cognitive-affective (evaluation of the quality of contact between groups), and behavioral (engaging in a positive contact with the other) factors.