Assessing the Relevance of Ethnic Heterogeneity as a Predictor of Homicide at the Cross‐National Level

This study examines the relationship between ethnic heterogeneity and homicide at the cross‐national level. Drawing insight from social disorganization theory and Blau and Blau's (1982) theory on inequality and heterogeneity and crime, this study proposes that nations that fail to address the challenges associated with ethnic heterogeneity will have higher rates of homicide. The results show that, net of statistical controls, ethnic heterogeneity positively influences homicide. The implications of these findings are discussed.