Research by the Institute of Education, University of London, suggests young white people are less well disposed towards immigrants when minority ethnic groups are doing well.
The findings are based on the relationship between tolerance and classroom ethnic diversity among 14-year-olds in England, Germany and Sweden.
Classroom Diversity and its Relation to Tolerance, Trust and Participation in England, Sweden and Germany found that the greater the "civic competence" of ethnic minority children — the knowledge and skills that citizens need to participate effectively in a democratic society — the less tolerant their white classmates appear to be.
"As soon as minorities assert themselves and become as competent as the majority, the latter may well become defensive and intolerant," said Dr Jan Germen Janmaat, who conducted the research.
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