Analytical Framework

Although the empirical findings of Studies I and II address more inductively the extent, forms, causes, and consequences of institutional violence, as well as their comparative variations according to the respondents’ subjective experiences and perceptions and major demographic factors, these findings do not provide answers to the following questions: 1) Why do members of the host societies engage in institutional (verbal) violence? and 2) What can explain cross-national variations beyond demographic characteristics in reported institutional violence? These questions require some theoretical considerations and an analytical framework for further exploration. As will be discussed further in this chapter, first, it is assumed that natives hold negative attitudes against migrants due to the threat they pose to the members of host societies. Such attitudes can turn into rejective behaviors and exclusionary actions under certain circumstances.