Social tolerance and national well-being: Comparing racial tolerance in the United States with religious tolerance in Nigeria.

Title

Social tolerance and national well-being: Comparing racial tolerance in the United States with religious tolerance in Nigeria.

Author

1. Hope Ohiarah, Student, California Intercontinental University, United States

Abstract

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between social tolerance and national well-being by comparing racial tolerance in the United States and religious tolerance in Nigeria. Tolerance is viewed not merely as an ethical goal but as a strategic governance tool that yields measurable social and economic benefits. Drawing on interdisciplinary insights from economics, political science, public health, and comparative politics, the research illustrates how inclusive norms and institutions enhance human capital, reduce the costs of conflict, and improve the effectiveness of public policy.

 

In the United States, persistent racial hierarchies and systemic discrimination lead to high economic and social costs, impacting productivity, health outcomes, and civic trust. Extensive administrative data highlight enduring intergenerational mobility gaps, with Black and American Indian children facing notably lower upward mobility compared to their white counterparts (Chetty et al., 2020). Structural racism is identified as a “fundamental cause” of health disparities, contributing to differences in morbidity and mortality that ultimately weaken national health capital and workforce resilience (LaVeist et al., 2023; White et al., 2024). Policies designed to promote racial inclusion—such as enforcing anti-discrimination laws, ensuring equitable access to education, and targeted labor-market interventions—have led to improvements in labor force participation, higher average earnings, and greater returns on public investment in human capital. Additionally, public health research suggests that inclusive language, bias-reduction initiatives, and institutional reforms can alleviate stress-related health challenges and improve educational outcomes, thereby bolstering long-term resilience.

 

Conversely, Nigeria faces a unique yet related challenge. While religious plurality enriches cultural life, it also contributes to political tension and communal violence. Empirical studies indicate that intolerance—expressed through sectarian confrontations, extremist mobilization, and the politicization of religious identities—increases governance costs, disrupts public service delivery, and undermines institutional legitimacy (Dowd, 2016; Jatau & Maza, 2023). On the other hand, fostering tolerance through legal protections, interfaith dialogue, and community collaboration has been shown to diminish violence, stabilize markets, and safeguard human capital. Evidence from randomized studies in Cross River State demonstrates that involving religious leaders in vaccination efforts can enhance coverage, highlighting how tolerance can bolster public health initiatives and strengthen institutional legitimacy (Oyo Ita et al., 2021).

 

 

By analyzing a variety of indicators across nations and within individual countries—such as rates of violent incidents, levels of educational attainment, disparities in earnings, and health metrics at the population level—the study reveals consistent causal relationships: greater tolerance decreases the transaction costs associated with conflict, broadens the talent pool available for employment, and enhances the returns on public investments. The analysis concludes that comprehensive policy strategies that incorporate legal protections, targeted social investments, and localized initiatives to shift societal norms yield the most significant overall economic benefits. More broadly, the findings emphasize that tolerance should be recognized as both a normative principle and an essential policy tool for establishing lasting peace, fostering prosperity, and strengthening democratic resilience.

Keywords

Conclusion

Conclusion

Tolerance is both a normative commitment and a strategic governance instrument. In the United States, racial tolerance enhances economic performance, strengthens civic stability, and amplifies the returns to public investment. In Nigeria, religious tolerance reduces violence, protects human capital, and improves institutional legitimacy. The most durable gains emerge when legal safeguards, targeted social investments, and localized norm-shifting interventions operate in concert, transforming inclusive commitments into measurable public goods.

By synthesizing evidence across two distinct contexts, this paper demonstrates that tolerance should be understood not only as a moral aspiration but as a practical policy instrument essential to securing durable peace, prosperity, and democratic resilience.

Author Contrubution

n'/a

Funding

n/a

Conflict of Interest

n/a

Data Sharing Statement

Please do not share my personal data without my explicit consent

Software And Tools Use

Acknowledgements

I thank God for life, will, and all that I have, my friends and family for their love and support, my colleagues for their support and encouragement, and my tutors for the knowledge they imparted.