EUMARGINS: Policy brief on political inclusion & representation

The Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX)  brings out the European normative standard of  the best practice illustrating political participation of immigrants  throughthe following ideal-typical case (MIPEX, 2011):“A migrant has opportunities to participate in public life which conform to Europe's highest democratic principles. The state guarantees her political liberties to form an association, even a political one, to join political parties, and thus participate in civil society. As a legal resident, she can vote and stand for local elections, just like EU-nationals. She can also vote at the regional level. At local, regional, and national levels, migrants or migrant associations independently elect representatives to structural 4consultative bodies that  discuss the policies  that most affect them. The state implements policies that actively inform her of her political rights and offer migrant associations funding or in-kind support under the same conditions as other associations”Taking this  normative standard as a point of departure, this policy brief pays closer attention to the participation of immigrants in politics and in civil society, and by doing that seeks to also  outline some of the factors  which may limit political participation, inclusion and representation of immigrants,  in seven European countries: Norway, Sweden, Estonia, UK, France, Italy and Spain...Read more