Opinion climates and immigrant political action: a cross-national study of 25 European democracies

Just, Aida and Anderson, Christopher J. ORCID: 0000-0003-3198-4172 (2014) Opinion climates and immigrant political action: a cross-national study of 25 European democracies. Comparative Political Studies, 47 (7). 935 - 965. ISSN 0010-4140

Text (Opinion Climates and Immigrant Political Action Just and Anderson 2014) - Accepted Version Download (430kB)

• Scopus publication
• Author

Abstract

We develop a model of immigrant political action that connects individual motivations to become politically involved with the context in which participation takes place. The article posits that opinion climates in the form of hostility or openness toward immigrants shape the opportunity structure for immigrant political engagement by contributing to the social costs and political benefits of participation. We argue that friendly opinion climates toward immigrants enable political action among immigrants, and facilitate the politicization of political discontent. Using survey data from the European Social Survey (ESS) 2002 to 2010 in 25 European democracies, our analyses reveal that more positive opinion climates-at the level of countries and regions-increase immigrant political engagement, especially among immigrants dissatisfied with the political system. However, this effect is limited to uninstitutionalized political action, as opinion climates have no observable impact on participation in institutionalized politics.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://journals.sagepub.com/home/cps
Additional Information:	© 2013 The Authors
Divisions:	European Institute
Subjects:	J Political Science > JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
Date Deposited:	11 Nov 2019 12:45
Last Modified:	15 Nov 2024 02:09
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/102469

Actions (login required)

View Item