Political representation of citizens of immigrant origin in Spain and Italy
Abstract
In the 1990s and the 2000s, Spain and Italy experienced a considerable growth in immigration. In just two decades, the foreign population has multiplied more than fivefold in both countries and by 2010 accounted for 12 and 6 per cent of the total population, respectively (INE, 2015; ISTAT, 2015). This demographic change has put pressure on the democratic representative system of both countries, with large numbers of new residents wishing to have a voice in the direction of collective affairs. Yet, at the same time, public opinion has become increasingly concerned about immigration and immigrants’ integration in both countries, with attitudes towards immigrants becoming increasingly negative in both. This article examines how these competing pressures can help us better understand the strategies of political parties in relation to the incorporation of citizens of immigrant origin into elected office in the national parliaments of both countries. Drawing on an original and unique dataset on the socio-demographic characteristics and political profiles of all national MPs elected in Spain and Italy since the beginning of the 1990s, this study aims at examining the dynamics which encourage or hinder the political representation of citizens of immigrant origin in these two Southern European countries.Keywords
immigration, parliaments, MPs, political parties, public opinionReferences
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