General Perspectives: Citizenship, Migration, and Participation

This chapter focuses on how citizenship affects migrants’ participation in individual and collective political actions. It considers the institutionalized dimension of citizenship, that is, the set of legal norms, laws, policies, and ideas of the nation in the countries where migrants settle, what has been referred to as citizenship regime. It examines how the latter shapes constraints and opportunities of migrants’ political participation in individual activities such as voting and extra-electoral political activities such as displaying a badge, or boycotting certain products for political reasons. Additionally, the chapter examines how citizenship regimes affect collective actions which include political claims-making, such as protests or political activities undertaken by migrant groups and organizations. Finally, it illustrates the moderating effect of the citizenship regime on the impact that several other factors, particularly associations, have on political engagement by individual and collective actors.