Political (in)equality in post-migrant democracy (PoMigDem)
The DeZIM collaborative project examines patterns and mechanisms of belonging, participation, and representation in post-migrant democracy. Based on this analysis, it identifies potential interventions aimed at increasing political equality within post-migrant democracy.
Project Description
Under the conditions of the post-migrant society, the tension between social inequalities and the promise of political equality inherent in democracy is exacerbated. Among other things, new dynamics are developing in relation to political conflicts and belonging, political participation and patterns of political representation. The aim of the collaborative research project is to identify and empirically investigate mechanisms that mediate or deepen the potential contradictions between social inequalities and ideas of political equality in plural, post-migrant democracy.
The research is carried out within project modules that are structured along the dimensions of (A) belonging, (B) participation and (C) representation.
Module cluster A addresses questions of political belonging between self-affiliation and external affiliation: in relation to democratic values among migrants from authoritarian regimes (A.1); and in relation to hierarchical experiences of people with a migration background in the workplace and the significance of these experiences for political inclusion (A.2).
Module cluster B deals with the contextual and institutional conditions of political and civic participation. The research modules examine the participation of migrant parents in state and civil society institutions (B.1); and explore how the local variation of infrastructures, such as (migrant) associations or social institutions, affects the political participation of people with a migration background and the migration-related attitudes of others (B.2).
Module cluster C analyses questions of representation in post-migrant democracies. The modules analyse the extent to which the ethnic and socio-economic background of candidates for political office affects their chances of success (C.1); the mechanisms through which threats against politicians have a group-specific effect and thus reinforce existing, migration-related imbalances in representation (C.2); and the potential of democratic innovations to overcome intersectional inequalities and their significance for representation and responsiveness (C.3).
This research enables the collaborative research project to identify patterns and mechanisms of belonging, participation and representation in post-migrant democracy. By analysing the mechanisms at work, it is able to identify interventions that can contribute to greater political equality in post-migrant democracy. By analysing the interdependent importance of social inequalities, migration-related diversity, and contextual and institutional conditions for these dimensions of political (in)equality, the project provides important insights for policy and practice.
BIM is participating in the collaborative project through the following sub-projects:
- B.1 Strengthening participation in state and civil society institutions: perspectives of migrant parents. PIs: Dr. Alison Benbow (BIM), Prof. Dr. Aileen Edele (BIM), Prof. Dr. Philipp Jugert (InZentIM), Coordination: Sophie Harms (BIM), Researchers: N.N. (BIM), N.N. (InZentIM)
- B.2 Protective infrastructures? The role of local infrastructures for participation and migration-related attitudes in post-migrant democracy. PI and Researcher: Dr. Nihad El-Kayed (BIM)
- C.2 Representation in situations of threat. Local officials and elected representatives between exit and voice. PIs: Prof. Dr. Andreas Blätte (InZentIM), Dr. Nihad El-Kayed (BIM), Dr. Merve Schmitz-Vardar (InZentIM), Researchers: Laura Dinnebier (InZentIM), Leoni Keskinkılıç (BIM)
Coordination
- Overall PIs: Prof. Dr. Andreas Blätte (Universität Duisburg-Essen, InZentIM), Dr. Nihad El-Kayed (HU Berlin, BIM)
- Scientific and administrative coordination: N.N. (InZentIM), Dorothee Helsper (InZentIM-Geschäftsstelle)
Partner Institutions
- Berliner Institut für empirische Integrations- und Migrationsforschung (BIM)
- Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Integrations- und Migrationsforschung (InZentIM)
- Mannheimer Zentrum für Europäische Sozialforschung (MZES)
Duration
- 01/2025 – 12/2027
Research Team
- Dr. Alison Benbow (HU Berlin, BIM)
- Prof. Dr. Aileen Edele (HU Berlin, BIM)
- Dr. Nihad El-Kayed (HU Berlin, BIM)
- Sophie Harms (HU Berlin, BIM)
- Leoni Keskinkılıç (HU Berlin, BIM)
- Prof. Dr. Andreas Blätte (Universität Duisburg-Essen, InZentIM)
- Prof. Dr. Marc Debus (Universität Mannheim, MZES)
- Julius Diener (Universität Mannheim, MZES)
- Laura Dinnebier (Universität Duisburg-Essen, InZentIM)
- Prof. Dr. Marc Helbling (Universität Mannheim, MZES)
- Prof. Dr. Philipp Jugert (Universität Duisburg-Essen, InZentIM)
- Katharina Kowalski (Universität Duisburg-Essen, InZentIM)
- Dr. Korinna Lindemann (Universität Mannheim, MZES)
- Dr. Antonia May (Universität Mannheim, MZES)
- Dr. Sandra Morgenstern (Universität Mannheim, MZES)
- Prof. Dr. Andreas Niederberger (Universität Duisburg-Essen, InZentIM)
- Ibrahim Orha (Universität Duisburg-Essen, InZentIM)
- Prof. Dr. Susanne Pickel (Universität Duisburg-Essen, InZentIM)
- Dr. Merve Schmitz-Vardar (Universität Duisburg-Essen, InZentIM)
Funding
Funded by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.
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