Output

Cusmano, M. (2026). Generation matters: The role of migration and generational status for distributive justice preferences

Social Justice Research.
Abstract: People hold different preferences concerning the justice principles—such as merit, equality, and need—that should guide the distribution of resources. Additionally, they judge the existing distribution as just or unjust. Both sets of attitudes differ across social groups. So far, relatively little attention has been paid to migration experiences as a factor potentially underlying different attitudes toward distributive justice.

Petermann, S., Schönwälder, K., Harris, E., & Cusmano, M. (2025). Diffuse Vielfalt: Migration in individuellen Wahrnehmungen und Kategorisierungen

Soziale Welt, 76(3), 215-243.
Abstract: People constantly perform everyday categorisation tasks. Among other
things, they differentiate and categorise the people around them. The significance of
such everyday differentiations has not yet been sufficiently investigated. This article
shows that an analysis of subjective perceptions and descriptions, in this case of the
residential environment, is informative for an understanding of attitudes towards
diversity and migration. ... [Link zum Online-Anhang]

Fliess, N., & Schönwälder, K. (2025). Widespread, but also popular? Exploring attitudes to diversity policies

European Political Science Review, first view, 1-19.
Abstract: Diversity policies have become a common element of public policy-making in Europe. At the European, national, regional and local levels, efforts are made to meet demands arising from a growing socio-cultural diversity and to ensure more equal participation of disadvantaged groups. And yet, little is known about the reception of such policies among the general public. This article addresses this gap.

Petermann, S., Harris, E., & Schönwälder, K. (2025). Understanding support for diversity: The role of fundamental beliefs. Warum Vielfalt befürwortet wird: Zur Bedeutung grundlegender Überzeugungen

KZfSS Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie
Abstract: Understanding popular responses to immigration and sociocultural diversification is an important concern. Sometimes they are seen as key to a new cleavage dividing democratic societies. Previous research has often focused on attitudes towards levels and types of new migration, and mainly analysed hostility towards immigration. ...

Petermann, S. (2025). Wittenberg ist nicht Paris! Zum Einfluss der Stadt auf das Erleben von Vielfalt

In P. Gräfe, J. Hafner, A. Kastilan, & L. Süße (Eds.), Politik und Verwaltung. Verstehen und Verändern: Festschrift für Jörg Bogumil (pp. 467-498). Baden-Baden: Nomos.

Schönwälder, K., & Petermann, S. (2024). Vielfalt aus Sicht der Bevölkerung: eine alltägliche Normalität

In F. Gesemann, D. Filsinger, & S. Münch (Eds.), Handbuch Lokale Integrationspolitik (pp. 1-13). Wiesbaden: Springer VS.
Die Bevölkerung großer und mittlerer deutscher Städte sieht Vielfalt überwiegend positiv; Vielfalt ist heute eine weithin akzeptierte Normalität. Gestützt auf umfangreiche Daten aus zwei Forschungsprojekten zeigen wir, wie die Menschen städtische Vielfalt wahrnehmen, wie sie deren Auswirkungen beurteilen und ob sie Konsequenzen für die Gestaltung gesellschaftlicher Institutionen unterstützen. Während es keine scharfe Polarisierung gibt, zeigen sich doch Unterschiede zwischen Bevölkerungsgruppen.

Harris, E., Schönwälder, K., Petermann, S., & Vertovec, S. (2024). Diversity assent: conceptualisation and an empirical application

Ethnic and Racial Studies, 47(15), 3212-3236. doi:10.1080/01419870.2023.2277317
Abstract: Recent evidence suggests that in many European countries generally positive views about societal diversity predominate. Yet, as research has rather focussed on negative attitudes towards immigration and diversity, less is known about positive attitudes and those who hold them. ...

Migrantinnen beim Arzt: Was die Bürgerinnen denken

Über 90% stört es, wenn Minderheiten als Vordrängler beim Arzt attackiert werden. Dies zeigt eine repräsentative Umfrage für das Max-Planck-Institut zur Erforschung multireligiöser und multiethnischer Gesellschaften. Über 70% von ihnen würden das auch äußern.

Harris, E., Schönwälder, K., Petermann, S., & Vertovec, S. (2023). Diversity Assent: Conceptualisation and an Empirical Application

SocArXiv. September 4. doi:10.31235/osf.io/7q3ej
Abstract: Recent evidence suggests that in many European countries generally positive views about societal diversity predominate. Yet, as research has rather focused on negative attitudes towards immigration and diversity, ...

Drouhot, L. G., Schönwälder, K., Petermann, S., & Vertovec, S. (2023). Who supports refugees? Diversity assent and pro-refugee engagement in Germany

Comparative Migration Studies, 11: 4. doi:10.1186/s40878-023-00327-2
Abstract: During the 2015 “summer of welcome”, the mass arrival of refugees to Germany triggered widely publicised acts of pro-refugee solidarity among citizens. ...

Drouhot, L. G., Petermann, S., Schönwälder, K., & Vertovec, S. (2020). Has the Covid-19 pandemic undermined public support for a diverse society? Evidence from a natural experiment in Germany

Ethnic and Racial Studies. doi:10.1080/01419870.2020.1832698
Abstract: The Covid-19 pandemic has led to widespread worries that the health crisis is resulting in generalized hostility towards minorities and reduced support for a diverse society. ...

Drouhot, L. G., Petermann, S., Schönwälder, K., & Vertovec, S. (2021). The “Diversity Assent” (DivA) survey: Technical report

Working Papers WP 21-20

Schönwälder, K., Vertovec, S., Petermann, S., Hüttermann, J., Hewstone, M., Stolle, D., et al. (2016). Diversity and Contact: Immigration and social interaction in German cities.

Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
This book analyzes how the socio-demographic and cultural diversity of societies affect the social interactions and attitudes of individuals and groups within them. Focusing on Germany, where in some cities more than one third of the population are first or second-generation immigrants, it examines how this phenomenon impacts on the ways in which urban residents interact, ...