PUTTING UP WITH FASCISTS IN WESTERN-EUROPE - A COMPARATIVE, CROSS-LEVEL ANALYSIS OF POLITICAL TOLERANCE

In this paper, we examine political intolerance within the countries of the European Community (EC). Based on surveys of public opinion in 1988 in the twelve European Community nations, we test several hypotheses derived from theories of citizen socialization to system norms. Our data reveal startlingly low levels of political tolerance in Western Europe. Not surprisingly, we find that those who are more threatened by their political enemies are less likely to tolerate them. Moreover, the more highly educated tend to be more tolerant. We also find that tolerance is more widespread in the newly formed democracies of the EC (e.g., Spain, Portugal, Greece). Those who have enjoyed democracy for a long time seem to take it for granted. Our analysis also suggests that within mature democracies, ideological diversity and strong party-group linkages contribute to political tolerance. Finally, the greater political tolerance in the newly formed democracies reflects the residue of experiences from the democratization era.