Institutional channelling: How defines Germany political participation opportunities for immigrants?

Seminar paper from the year 2009 in the subject Politics - Topic: Public International Law and Human Rights, grade: 1,0, Bilgi University ?stanbul (European Studies), course: Migration and Europe , language: English, abstract: The importance of immigrants' active participation in German society is undoubtedly emphasized and supported by governmental authorities. However, the discourse produced by the state and political parties on immigrants' participation is predominantly concerned with civic mobilisation and the involvement in organisations initiated by immigrants themselves. This paper addressing the less debated topic of immigrants' political participation acts therefore as a counterbalance to these discussions. In research special attention has been dedicated to the correlation between immigrants' participation and integration. The widespread claim that ethnic and religious immigrant associations trigger segregation and hinder integration into German society has been refuted by recent studies affirming the incorporation of active immigrants (e.g. Thränhardt 1999). As immigrants' participation has been proofed to be an important means to promote immigrant integration it deserves further academic attention. It appeals to me to observe and research immigrants as active, contributing individuals to our society. This perspectival manner of immigrants' representation endeavours to distract attention from the mainly cultural and problematic discourse that exists concerning the issue of migration in Germany. With the theoretical insights of Patrick Ireland among others the immigrants' mobilisation research field has been expanded to the influence of the institutional setting provided by the German state granting political participation opportunities to immigrants. This paper will especially answer the questions how the institutions and practices offered by the German government influences the participation of immigrants in the political sphere. The first chapter deals with definitions and theoretical concepts aiming to clarify how specific expressions will be used in this paper. The third and the fourth chapter will then reveal what political participation opportunities are provided by the government in terms of state and non-state institutions and practices.