Download full text
(external source)
Citation Suggestion
Please use the following Persistent Identifier (PID) to cite this document:
https://doi.org/10.1080/07907184.2021.1929186
Exports for your reference manager
One step forward, two steps back in political integration: why are Polish candidates not making progress in Irish local elections?
[journal article]
Abstract The Republic of Ireland has had a significant Polish minority since the European Union enlargement of 2004. Despite their positive reception and successful economic integration, Poles rarely stand as candidates in local elections (in which all foreigners are entitled to run and vote); in fact, their... view more
The Republic of Ireland has had a significant Polish minority since the European Union enlargement of 2004. Despite their positive reception and successful economic integration, Poles rarely stand as candidates in local elections (in which all foreigners are entitled to run and vote); in fact, their involvement has even diminished - from nine Polish candidates in 2009 and 2014, to three in 2019. This article, based on interviews with 13 of the 19 Poles who have run thus far, 15 other politically or socially active Polish migrants and a survey (N = 503, CAPI, conducted in 2018) of Poles in the Republic of Ireland (henceforth Ireland) investigates this conundrum of a lack of progress in political integration. The political opportunity structure can be analysed from the perspective of the receiving political system - for example the attitude of political parties - or the perspective of the immigrant community. This article focuses on the latter and demonstrates that changes in the Polish community in Ireland over the last decade have made political integration more difficult. Our findings suggest that the politics and policies of the country of origin should also be considered as an important element influencing the political integration of migrants in the destination country.... view less
Keywords
political integration; local election; Pole; migrant; Ireland; diaspora; EU; political attitude; political system
Classification
Migration, Sociology of Migration
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture
Document language
English
Publication Year
2022
Page/Pages
p. 125-146
Journal
Irish Political Studies, 37 (2022) 1
ISSN
1743-9078
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed