A Comparative Study of Immigrant-origin Adolescents’ Political Engagement in 17 European Countries: The Role of the Host Country’s Immigrant Integration Policy Context

Most prior research has viewed the political engagement of immigrant-origin adolescents as an individual decision. However, we know that policy efforts to integrate immigrants into society can motivate immigrant-origin adolescents to engage in the host country’s political system. This article indicates that the host country’s policy context surrounding immigrant integration can influence immigrant-origin adolescents’ discussion of political issues and interest in politics in the host country over and above their individual and family attributes. To assess this relationship, we combine the 2009 International and Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) with the 2007 Migration Integration Policy Index (MIPEX). Our hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) meta analyses of 17 European countries show that in countries with more inclusive integration policies, immigrant-origin adolescents are substantially more likely to participate in political discussions and become interested in politics than their native peers. In particular, the inclusiveness of the legal-political dimension of immigrant integration policy appears to exert a strong influence on the political engagement of first-generation adolescents, while the inclusiveness of the socioeconomic dimension of immigrant integration policy, especially immigrant education policy, emerges as a key predictor for the political engagement of second-generation adolescents. Based on our findings, we also discuss theoretical and policy implications.