ABSTRACT
Although the distinction between hostile attitudes towards Muslims as individuals and Islam as a religion has been discussed from a theoretical perspective, empirical investigations on the topic have been rare and the phenomenon is still primarily measured as a one-dimensional construct in quantitative surveys. Therefore, it seems to be crucial to pay more attention to what exactly is intended to be measured: hostile attitudes towards Muslims as individuals or hostile attitudes towards Islam, that is, a religion. Such differentiation is important when it comes to the operationalisation, terminology, and solutions employed to overcome hostility and discrimination. The present study (n = 229) analyses whether anti-Islam and anti-Muslim attitudes are two different phenomena and whether specific conditions (e.g., education, contact, religiousness, national identity) have an impact on both dimensions. The results support the necessity for a differentiated perspective. Even though it is difficult to regard anti-Islam and anti-Muslim attitudes as completely independent of each other, the phenomenon should no longer be seen as a one-dimensional but rather as an (at least) two-dimensional construct.
