The price of ethnic marginalization

The peril of ethnic exclusion in times of public health crisis

Bibliographic Data

ID12926451
AuthorsWilliam Hatungimana (0000-0002-9081-3528, University of Oregon), Leeann H Youn (0009-0007-8373-3590, Michigan Technological University), Rigao Liu (0000-0001-5394-5735, University of Kansas), Haruka Nagao (0000-0003-3556-4116, University of Oregon, corresponding author)
Year2026
Pages1-19
Publication date2026-04-07
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEuropean Political Science Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1755-7739 • E-ISSN: 1755-7747
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s1755773926100344
OpenAlexW7151249486
LanguageEN
References cited53

Vaccine hesitant sentiments are reported among some ethnic and racial minority communities. This study argues that their vaccine hesitancy stems from distrust in the government that marginalizes them. Building on existing studies on ethnicity, health, and political trust, this study offers an original contribution by using causal mediation analyses to provide suggestive evidence of a mediating relationship between ethnic marginalization and vaccination intention and by focusing on African countries. We conduct causal mediation analyses of nationally representative survey data across 14 African countries and find that trust in government mediates the effect of perceived ethnic marginalization on COVID-19 vaccination intention. Perceived marginalization decreases government trust and thus reduces vaccination intention. The findings have implications beyond the pandemic era. A path dependent consequence of marginalization during non-crisis times hinders collective actions during crisis times. Governments must put efforts into combating ethnic marginalization during non-crisis times

Distrust · Ethnic conflict · Ethnic group · Government (linguistics · Mediation · Politics · Public policy · Survey data collection · Economic Growth and Development · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy

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