Racism is the intolerance of others based on their ethnic origin. Common in all societies, its origins are often economic or demographic. A clash of groups under economic stress is one of the more common forms of racism. Racial intolerance is also a political methodology, exploiting tensions between groups. The racism is used as a political base, commonly siding with a majority group against a minority. Although illegal and in decline, racism remains a social problem around the world, among the insular, undereducated and illiterate groups.