IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/socsci/v106y2025i4ne70055.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Migrant Political Activism in Vienna, Brussels, Berlin, and Amsterdam: The Role of Voting Rights in Shaping Protest Behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Zeynep Mentesoglu Tardivo

Abstract

Objective Understanding migrants’ political participation beyond elections remains vital for assessing the quality of democracy in increasingly diverse European societies. This article investigates migrant participation in protests across four major European cities with substantial migrant populations: Vienna, Brussels, Berlin, and Amsterdam. Specifically, the study explores how local voting rights for non‐nationals, a key indicator of institutional inclusion, influence protest behavior. Methods This study draws on data from the European Social Survey (ESS), Rounds 1–11. Guided by the political opportunity structure framework, the study tests the hypothesis that migrants living in cities where local voting rights are extended to non‐citizens are more likely to engage in protest compared to those in more restrictive contexts. Results Contrary to expectations, local voting rights are associated with lower protest participation. Perceived discrimination increases protest likelihood, supporting grievance‐based mobilization theories. Protest is also more common in cities with favorable public opinion toward immigrants. Notably, the suppressive effect of voting rights is strongest among EU non‐citizens. Conclusion Notwithstanding expectations, rights may pacify; protest seems to flourish not where rights are granted, but where they are denied. The results underscore the complex interplay between institutional opportunities, public discourse, and individual experiences in shaping migrant political behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Zeynep Mentesoglu Tardivo, 2025. "Migrant Political Activism in Vienna, Brussels, Berlin, and Amsterdam: The Role of Voting Rights in Shaping Protest Behavior," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 106(4), July.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:106:y:2025:i:4:n:e70055
    DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.70055
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/ssqu.70055
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/ssqu.70055?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:106:y:2025:i:4:n:e70055. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0038-4941 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.