Immigrant and Ethnic Minority Representation in Europe: Conceptual Challenges and Theoretical Approaches

This article introduces the symposium on the representation of immigrant-origin and ethnic minorities in Europe. It argues for the importance of research on this topic, noting the large, established populations of immigrant-origin citizens and their descendants across Western European countries and these minorities’ underrepresentation in elected bodies. Current research gaps concern both empirical knowledge and the theoretical conceptualisation of immigrant and ethnic minority political involvement. The article argues that existing research on representation needs to be extended to suit the cases of immigrants and ethnic minorities. It ends by providing a brief overview of each contribution to the symposium.

Other contributions to the symposium:

- Two-tier Pluralism in ‘Colour-blind’ France
Vincent Tiberj & Laure Michon

- Explaining Different Trajectories in Immigrant Political Integration: Moroccans and Turks in Amsterdam
Laure Michon & Floris Vermeulen

- Party Strategies and the Descriptive Representation of Ethnic Minorities: The 2010 British General Election
Maria Sobolewska

- Immigrant Representation in Germany’s Regional States: The Puzzle of Uneven Dynamics
Karen Schönwälder

- Immigrant Representation in Germany’s Regional States: The Puzzle of Uneven Dynamics
Karen Schönwälder