Migrant identity and politicization

What is the relationship between national identity and politicization? In an era of widespread concerns over terrorism and the integration of minorities in Western societies, this is a relevant question. If one's identification with the new home country increases, what is the consequence for levels and types of political activity? Bernd Simon and Olga Grabow have published some interesting new research on the topic.

Looking at Russian migrants in Germany (replicating a design that has previously been used with Turkish migrants in Germany), they show that dual identity (identifying both with one's origins and the new home country) predicts increased politicization. In other words, political activity is more likely for those migrants who exhibit a dual identity, and less likely among those who retain a primary identity to their country of origin. Further, this politicization depends on the perception of shared grievances by the migrant group: feeling disadvantaged as a group predicts higher political activity.

But the most interesting finding is this: increased politicization applies to peaceful participation in politics only. Support of political violence does not increase with dual identification, even when shared grievances are perceived within the migrant group. What to conclude? That on the surface of it, it may look like politicized migrant groups who exhibit dual identities and yet make ethnicity-related demands are a sign that integration politics is not working, but that these demands are in fact unlikely to "spill over" into violent radicalization. If anything, the promotion of dual identities may decrease the potential for politically motivated violence even as it increases the political mobilization of immigrant groups.

Simon, B., & Grabow, O. (2010). The Politicization of Migrants: Further Evidence that Politicized Collective Identity is a Dual Identity Political Psychology, 31 (5), 717-738 DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9221.2010.00782.x