Abstract

Recent political rhetoric both in the U.S. and abroad has drawn renewed attention to racial and ethnic conflict, state power, and punishment. The salience of minority group conflict on incarceration is well established in theory and research in the U.S. This study explores whether racial/ethnic composition explains incarceration rates throughout the world, rather than being a peculiarity of the U.S. It also evaluates the functional form of these relationships. Analysis of up to 132 nations indicates that incarceration rates are significantly associated with ethnic diversity and ethnic polarization. The lowest incarceration rates are observed in countries with substantial homogeneity or substantial diversity. Incarceration rates are highest in countries with moderate diversity but high polarization—where a sizable minority population is present, approaching parity with a majority group. Minority group conflict may be a troublesome contributor to punishment throughout the world and is not a uniquely American phenomenon.

摘要

最近美国国内外的政治言论重新引起人们对种族和民族冲突、国家权力和惩罚的关注。少数群体冲突对监禁的显着性在美国的理论和研究中已得到充分证实。这项研究探讨了种族/族裔构成是否解释了世界各地的监禁率，而不是美国的一个特点。它还评估了这些关系的功能形式。对多达 132 个国家的分析表明，监禁率与种族多样性和种族两极分化显着相关。在具有显着同质性或显着多样性的国家中，监禁率最低。在具有中等多样性但高度两极分化的国家中，监禁率最高——那里有相当多的少数族裔人口，接近与多数群体平等。少数群体冲突可能是全世界惩罚的一个麻烦因素，而且并不是美国独有的现象。