Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/305594 
Year of Publication: 
2024
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 11352
Publisher: 
CESifo GmbH, Munich
Abstract: 
Non-family-based institutions for socializing young people may play a vital role in creating close-knit, inclusive communities. We study the potential for youth camps—integrating rituals, sports, and civics training—to strengthen intergroup cohesion. We randomly assigned Hindu and Muslim adolescent boys, from West Bengal, India, to two-week camps or to a pure control arm. To isolate mechanisms, we cross-randomized collective rituals (such as singing the national anthem, wearing uniforms, chanting support during matches, and synchronous dancing) and the intensity of intergroup contact. We find that camps reduce ingroup bias, increase willingness to interact with outgroup members, and enhance psychological well-being. Campers continue to have more than twice as many outgroup friends than control participants one year after the camps ended. Meanwhile, additional camp elements have heterogeneous effects: rituals have more positive impacts for the Hindu majority than the Muslim minority, while higher intergroup contact backfires among Hindus but not Muslims. Our findings demonstrate that inclusive youth camps may be a powerful tool for bridging deep social divides. Yet, we also highlight the conceptual challenges in crafting optimal integrative camps that help all groups.
Subjects: 
intergroup contact
rituals
curriculum
youth camps
discrimination
ingroup bias
civic values
JEL: 
J15
C93
D91
I10
Z12
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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