THE VOICE OF IMMIGRANTS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE: A SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL VIEW ON THE POLITICAL PARTICIPATION OF IMMIGRANTS

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to review empirical studies on political participation (voting, institutionalized and noninstitutionalized political activities) of immigrants in host countries. Political participation of immigrants in post migration period has critical consequences both for the democracies of the host countries and the integration of immigrants. Therefore, it is highly important to understand the social psychological processes underlying the political participation of immigrants. In this paper, the dynamics of political participation of immigrants are scrutinized and the group and individual level factors that affect the political involvement processes of immigrants in receiving societies are summarized. Among the group level variables, the effects of social injustice, perceived efficacy, social identity and intergroup contact on the political participation of immigrants are discussed. As for the individual differences, the focus were the individual characteristics such as education, gender and generation of immigrants. Finally, the limitations of previous studies as well as issues that should be taken into account in future studies are remarked.