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Further Evidence on the Relationship Between Population Diversity and Violent Crime

NCJ Number
199230
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 26 Issue: 2 Dated: Fall 2002 Pages: 203-229
Author(s)
Gregory J. Howard; Graeme Newman; Joshua D. Freilich
Date Published
2002
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the relationship between population diversity and violent crime.
Abstract
This study sought to expand on earlier research into the relationship between population diversity and violent crime by adopting the same conceptualization of population diversity and eliciting further evidence by asking two related questions. The first question is whether the hypothesis that high complexity and low integration will yield high rates of violence holds when the latter concept is operationalized as homicide, rape, and robbery. The second question is what extent the different types and dimensions of population diversity are differentially related to these three forms of violent crime. The four types of population diversity are biological, structural, cultural, and dynamic. A sample of 17 countries was analyzed. Because of the limited sample, strong conclusions could not be made. However, the hypothecated relationship between population diversity and violence enjoyed considerable support. Nearly two-thirds of the societies studied conformed to theoretical predictions regarding violent crime as a composite of homicide, rape, and robbery. These predictions were borne out most consistently for levels of rape, slightly less consistently for levels of homicide, and poorly for levels of robbery. The relationship between population diversity and violence was contingent on the form of violence. It is concluded that those societies that have achieved some measure of integration of population diversity seem to have insulated themselves from the violence that attends distinction among members of society. 11 figures, 2 tables, 4 notes, 50 references

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