This study investigates how physical proximity to ethnic outgroups influences intergroup political behavior.

The core question explores whether living near other groups increases hostility or affects voting patterns. Existing research faced limitations due to coarse geographic measures, failing to capture true interpersonal contact.

Methodology Innovation

Instead of broad neighborhood data, the author introduces a novel metric: the k-nearest neighbors score for outgroup exposure. This measurement advances by capturing individual-level interactions within eight slum neighborhoods using geocoded network data.

Empirical Test

The refined exposure measure is then applied to an original survey experiment across 149 Indian city neighborhoods. The findings reveal a clear connection between residential proximity and political endogamy: living near outgroups increases preference for coethnic candidates, but does not correlate with increased hostility toward them.

This nuanced result provides new insights into how spatial organization shapes ethnic politics without reinforcing common prejudice narratives.