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Access to citizenship & its impact on immigrant integration (ACIT)

This research explores the role of citizenship in the re-socialization process of first-generation immigrants, specifically focusing on their political participation in Europe. The study examines conventional and unconventional forms of political engagement and considers factors such as pre- and post-migration experiences, length of residence, and democratic background. The findings suggest that while citizenship increases exposure to democratic processes, it is not a guaranteed solution for political engagement.

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Access to citizenship & its impact on immigrant integration (ACIT)

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  1. Co-financed by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals Access to citizenship & its impact on immigrant integration (ACIT) Citizenship acquisition and political participation of immigrants in Europe

  2. Socialization, Naturalization and Immigrant Political Participation in Europe: the Puzzle • Research question: is there an independent role of citizenship in the process of re-socialization of first generation immigrants? • The case of non-electoral political participation: ‘Legal activities by private citizens which are more or less directly aimed at influencing the selection of government personnel and/or the actions they take’ • Conventional & unconventional Cf. Verba & Nie, 1972

  3. Re-socialization Theories • Resistance - changes unlikely after ‘formative years’. • Pre-migration experiences • Exposure - adaptation depends on exposure to the new political environment • Length of residence + citizenship • Transferability – early traits can be adapted by later experiences  lifelong learning. • Pre-migration + post-migration experiences combined  Similar systems make transition easier • Relation naturalisation and participation conditioned by the democratic experience in the country of origin.

  4. Data & Methods • European Social Survey • Pooled dataset of waves 1-5 (2002-2010) • 16 European countries • First generation immigrants • Persons born outside test country and whose both parents were also born abroad • Arrived in test country at/after age of 18 • N=9978 • Multi-level analysis

  5. Measures of political participation

  6. Results I(without controlling for additional factors)

  7. Results I(without controlling for additional factors)

  8. Political participation by immigrants by years of residence and democratic status of country of origin Conventional Participation Unconventional Participation

  9. Political participation by immigrants by years of residence and citizenship status Conventional Participation Unconventional participation

  10. Concluding remarks • Re-socialization takes place: time matters • Conventional participation is driven by political context of the country of destination • Un-conventional participation is driven by the political context of the country of origin • The significance of the context of political socialization will depend on the nature of the political participation • Independent but limited role of citizenship in this process  Naturalization increases exposure to the democratic process, but is no ‘magical solution’ for political engagement

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