Immigrant political incorporation in a global city : policy, immigrants, and organizations

Abstract

Immigration has become an important source of skills and talent in advanced industrial states facing declining birthrates and aging populations. Despite the significance of political incorporation for immigrant integration, surprisingly few existing migration studies explore the political integration of immigrants moving among different political systems. This thesis explores the political incorporation of immigrants within the context of regime transitions from authoritarian to (semi)democratic states, considering the roles of immigration policies, immigrants themselves, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The first study offers a comparative analysis of how Asian developed economies, which are becoming increasingly popular immigration destinations, approach political incorporation through immigration policy. Using fuzzy-set ideal type analysis, the research conceptualizes policy models and examines the policy landscapes of six developed Asian economies: Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Macao, and Hong Kong. The findings indicate a divergence in policy models, with Taiwan engaging in active citizen participation, Japan and Korea exhibiting varying degrees of political community, and Singapore, Macao, and Hong Kong adopting more restrictive approaches. The study contributes to a more cohesive understanding of immigration policies and the varied stances on immigrant political incorporation in Asia.

The second study investigates the political incorporation of Chinese immigrants in Hong Kong, providing a nuanced analysis of how pre-migration political socialization and the timing of migration influence political attitudes and electoral participation. Utilizing the HKPSSD 2017 data, the research unveils significant variations in political attitudes and participation among Chinese immigrants, challenging the stereotype of a politically homogenous immigrant population. The early immigrants exhibit less support for pro-establishment parties, while post-reform (after 1979) immigrants show a preference for pro-establishment parties but less support for pro-democracy parties. The most recent cohort (after 1997) also showed significantly lower voter registration and turnout. These insights emphasize the importance of recognizing the temporal context of immigration and its impact on political attitudes and behaviors in the host society.

The final study turns the attention to the often-neglected role of NGOs in facilitating immigrant political incorporation. Through extensive ethnographic and interview data, the research explores how immigrant NGOs develop various strategies to facilitate immigrant political incorporation in Hong Kong. The findings underscore the critical function of civil society organizations in the political incorporation of immigrants, shedding light on a frequently ignored dimension in migration studies.

Overall, this thesis provides a comprehensive exploration of immigrant political incorporation in East Asia, identifying key factors that influence this process aim the backdrop of demographic shifts and political changes. The empirical findings across these studies provide valuable insights for the development of nuanced and effective policies and interventions to enhance the political incorporation of immigrants in their host societies.