Discriminated group identity and satisfaction with democracy in Europe

Although equality and nondiscrimination constitute the main principles of liberal democracy, democracies produce a diversity of social identities that are sensitive to discrimination and simultaneously challenge their legitimacy. This study examines the relationship between membership in groups discriminated against and satisfaction with the way democracy works (SWD). An analysis of the ESS Round 5–9 data from 18 countries has shown that the percentage of individuals identified with discriminated groups has grown between 2010 and 2018. Although the prevalence of members of groups discriminated against varies between countries, they express lower SWD than members of the majority across all the studied countries. Among members of discriminated groups, SWD is significantly affected by political orientation and political engagement.