Social Integration in a Diverse Society: Social Complexity Models of the Link Between Segregation and Opinion Polarization

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Abstract

There is increasing societal and scholarly interest in understanding how social integration can be maintained in a diverse society. This paper takes a model of the relation between opinion polarization and ethnic segregation as an example for social complexity. Many argue that segregation between different groups in society fosters opinion polarization. Earlier modeling work has supported this theoretically. Here, a simple model is presented that generates the opposite prediction based on the assumption that influence can be assimilative or repulsive, depending on the discrepancy between interacting individuals. It is discussed that these opposite results from similar models point to the need for more empirical research into micro-level assumptions and the micro-to-macro transformation in models of opinion dynamics in a diverse society.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationNew Perspectives and Challenges in Econophysics and Sociophysics
EditorsFrédéric Abergel, Bikas K. Chakrabarti, Anirban Chakraborti, Nivedita Deo, Kiran Sharma
Place of PublicationCham
PublisherSpringer International Publishing AG
Chapter15
Pages213-228
Number of pages16
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-030-11364-3
ISBN (Print)978-3-030-11363-6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

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