Comparing engagement by migrants in domestic and in country-of-origin political activities across European cities

Abstract

This article aims to investigate levels of migrants and second generations' engagement in country-of-origin political activities and in domestic political activities. Using data from a population survey of individuals of migrant origin in ten European cities undertaken in 2004-2010, we examine both individual and contextual characteristics shaping engagement in one and in the other scope of action. Findings show that migrants and second generations tend to engage in an equal number of domestic and country-of-origin political activities. Engagement in country-of-origin political activities only is fully compatible with a trajectory of political integration in the countries of settlement, opposing the view that migrants may contribute to build or live in a "separate" society. Finally, the results show that contextual opportunities affect chances to engage in one or in the other scope of action. In particular, easy access to residence permits favours engagement in domestic political activities and discourages engagement in country-of-origin political activities. This suggests that migrants and second generations' engagement in country-of-origin political activities may be a reaction to the limited opportunities of integration offered by the residence countries.

Between transnational engagements and local integration of Chinese communities in Italy: An analysis of the role of migrant organisations

“…A small body of prior studies have sought to demonstrate that transnationalism and integration need not be mutually exclusive. Existing literature on other countries or migrant groups has used membership in migrant organisations either as a parameter to estimate migrants' political participation in transnational politics (Guarnizo et al, 2003), or as a variable to explain migrants' likelihood to engage in political activities in receiving and origin countries (Pilati & Herman, 2020). Also, Portes et al (2008) found that migrant organisations can foster political incorporation of Latin‐American migrants in the United States (US), hence demonstrating that transnational involvements and domestic political integration are not in opposition.…”

Marginalized (non)citizens: migrant youth political engagement, volunteering and performative citizenship in the context of Brexit

“…Finally, it has been shown that migrants' political competence increases with education; high levels of social trust and involvement in local civic institutions, such as voluntary associations, have an increasing effect of migrants' civic and political engagement (Pilati and Herman 2020). These authors have also highlighted the importance of migrants' confidence in speaking the local language and having full citizenship rights, which positively impact engagement and "induce migrants to feel and act as full political members of the country where they live" (121).…”

General perspectives: citizenship, migration and participation

“…At the national level, the literature has shown the importance of other dimensions of the political opportunity structure such as the residence regimes (Gonzalez-Ferrer 2011) or of anti-discrimination legislations (Ebert and Okamoto 2013: 22), as well as of public opinion and political cultures (Just and Anderson 2014). In particular, easy access to residence permits favours engagement in domestic political activities and discourages engagement in country-of-origin political activities (Pilati and Herman 2018). Masuoka et al (2019) find that in the US, registration is also a barrier to political inclusion.…”

“…For a more fluent reading, throughout the chapter when we use migrants we also refer to second and third generations, unless differently specified.4 In addition to migrants' political engagement in the countries of settlement, studies have focused on migrants' political activities oriented to their origin countries, like external voting. The latter have been mostly investigated under the umbrella of transnational studies but it will not be taken into detailed account in this chapter (for an analysis of the impact of the citizenship regimes in Europe on transnational activities seePilati and Herman 2018).…”