This paper identifies the main legal obstacles faced by immigrants to participate in political life by comparing the situation in the European countries covered by the Migrant Integration Policy Index. It al so describes organisational barriers for these persons to become actively involved in political parties and institutions and makes proposals for how political parties can mainstream diversity...
Electoral rights and access to nationality are related but distinct policy questions. There are good reasons to plea for naturalisation as a strategy to enhance political participation as there are for voting rights. Both require fundamental changes in national legislation and the political will to make them, which seems to be lacking in most European countries nowadays. Acquiring citizenship has advantages over enjoying voting rights. The residence of voting non-nationals is not completely secured, but for citizens it is. Citizens enjoy full citizens’ rights. For example, no labour market restrictions apply as is often the case for immigrants in public service jobs. Citizens are also better protected against discrimination in countries where anti-discrimination law does not include nationality as a ground of discrimination. Voting rights are for a special and small category of persons whose stay is considered to be temporary and whose children become citizens over time. Promoting citizenship is the expression of a country’s intention to include immigrants and of these persons’ intention to become active members of society...Read more
