Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.31337/oz.80.4.3
Ethnic Exclusionism and General Siege Mentality as Predictors of Anti–Semitism Relationships Within the Adult Croatian Sample
Zlatko Šram
orcid.org/0009-0007-6679-4033
; Croatian Center for Social Research, Šibenik, Croatia
Marina Perić Kaseelj
; Institute for Migration Research, Zagreb, Croatia
Mario Bara
orcid.org/0000-0002-9964-7802
; Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
This research aims to determine 1) whether ethnic exclusivity and general siege
mentality, as aspects of threat perception, can significantly predict anti–Semitism;
2) whether national exclusivity, siege mentality, and anti–Semitism are correlated
in a way that forms a higher–order latent structure of general ethnic–national
threat perception, and 3) whether respondents of different sexes, ages, and educational
backgrounds vary in their internalization of this general ethnic–national
threat. The study involved a convenience sample of 558 adult Croatian citizens
from Eastern Slavonia and Baranja and was conducted as part of the research
activities of the Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies (now known as the Institute
for Migration Research). The results from the multiple regression analysis
indicated that national exclusivity and siege mentality are significant predictors
of anti–Semitism, accounting for about 25 percent of the variance in anti–Semitic
attitudes. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a one–factor solution which
explained 64 percent of the variance and was labeled as general ethnic–national
threat perception. Such perception of ethnic and national threats significantly
contributes to the development of anti–Semitism. While general ethnic–national
threat perception is more prevalent among male respondents, older individuals,
and those with lower levels of education, socio–demographic characteristics have
a minimal impact on the internalization of this latent dimension, which comprises
national exclusivity, siege mentality, and anti–Semitism.
Keywords
ethnic exclusionism; siege mentality; anti–Semitism; threat perception; Croats
Hrčak ID:
336310
URI
Publication date:
15.10.2025.
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