Definition: A scapegoat is person or group that is forced to take the blame for happenings that are not their fault. Scapegoating is common in circumstances in which two deprived ethnic groups come into competition with one another for economic rewards. It is also commonly directed against groups that are clearly distinct and powerless because they form a fairly easy target. Minority groups show both these characteristics.

Examples: Jews, Italians, racial minorities, and many others have played the unwilling role of scapegoats at various times throughout history.