Abstract
This study focuses on Balkans’ tolerance to ‘different others’, to people with specific sexuality and to migrants. Tolerance is defined as a value construct and multi-dimensional social phenomenon combining four interconnected components: perception, recognition, appreciation, and acceptance of diversity. Based on ESS data we calculated tolerance indexes and run random forest algorithms to measure the levels of tolerance and key influencers in Bulgaria, Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and the Greek part of Cyprus. Results found that their abstract tolerance is higher while target tolerance is significantly lower compared to that in the rest of Europe. The tolerance determinants range differently in each society, but life satisfaction, living standard, religion, trust in national institutions stand out among the top common vectors.

Keywords
tolerance; index of tolerance; random forest algorithm; ESS; different others; people with specific sexuality; migrants.

Cite this paper
Lilia DIMOVA, Martin DIMOV, Are the Balkans tolerant?, SCIREA Journal of Sociology. Vol. 6 , No. 1 , 2022 , pp. 1 - 22 . https://doi.org/10.54647/sociology84726

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