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This research aims to investigate how social capital affects attitudes towards immigrants in South Africa.

May 25, 2026Open Access

Neighbourhood-level social capital and anti-immigrant prejudice in an African context: an individual-level analysis of attitudes towards immigrants in South Africa

Key Points

This research aims to investigate how social capital affects attitudes towards immigrants in South Africa.
Analyzed the relationship between social trust, social bonds, and community sense with immigrant attitudes.
Utilized individual-level data from residents in South Africa.
Compared the impact of social capital and economic status on prejudice.
Social bonds and community sense significantly predicted attitudes against immigrants more than social trust.
Social capital emerged as a stronger predictor of prejudice than economic conditions.
Suggests that fostering social cohesion can mitigate anti-immigrant sentiments.

Abstract

African states are often characterised as low trust societies. Could a deficiency of social capital explain prejudice towards immigrants in such societies? Using South Africa as a case study, this paper tests the effect of social trust, social bonds with neighbours and a sense of community on attitudes towards foreigners. The results reveal that social capital may be a more important predictor of attitudes than economic status. Social bonds between neighbours and a sense of community were found to be more salient determinants of prejudice than social trust. In African societies it is, therefore, important to invest in programmes that promote social cohesion within communities.

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