THE ETHNIC HIERARCHY AMONG MAJORITY AND MINORITY YOUTH IN THE NETHERLANDS

This study tests the hypothesis that ethnic groups have consensus abou t the relative position of ethnic out-groups in society. A survey amon g ethnic majority and minority youth in the city of Rotterdam indicate d that: (a) each ethnic group preferred the in-group, (b) there was co nsensus on an ethnic hierarchy within ethnic groups, and (c) ethnic gr oups largely agreed on the ethnic rank order. Among the Dutch responde nts, the ethnic hierarchy was found to be related to real cultural dif ferences. The scheme of ethnic preferences corresponded inversely to t he rank ordering of the ethnic groups in terms of collectivism. Among ethnic minority youth the rank ordering did not correspond to cultural differences but to existing socioeconomic status differences.