Political Incorporation Among Immigrants from Ten Areas of Origin: The Persistence of Source Country Effects

• Published in: The International migration review 2005-03, Vol.39 (1), p.103-140
• Main Author: Bueker, Catherine Simpson
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aliens; Citizenship; Citizenship status; Country of origin; Cultures and civilizations; Democracy; Demographics; Demography; Education; Educational Attainment; Ethnic groups. Acculturation. Cultural identity; Higher education; Home country; Immigrant adaptation; Immigrants; Immigration; Income; Incorporation; International migration; Language Aptitude; Length of residency; Low income groups; Migration; Multivariate analysis; Naturalization; Noncitizens; Political aspects; Political migration; Political participation; Politics; Population studies; Poverty; Risk factors; School surveys; Self reports; Social Networks; Sociodemographic Factors; Sociology; Statistical analysis; U.S.A; United States of America; USA; Voter behavior; Voter turnout; Voting; Voting Behavior; Voting behaviour
• ISSN: 0197-9183; 1747-7379
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1747-7379.2005.tb00257.x

Using four years of data from the Current Population Survey, this study examines the effect of country of origin on two types of political incorporation among immigrants — citizenship and voting — in the contemporary United States. Results show that country of origin is a statistically significant predictor of citizenship acquisition for nine of ten immigrant groups and for voter turnout for five of ten groups, net of income, education, length of residence in the United States, and other demographic characteristics. The findings also suggest that country of origin matters as much for how it interacts with other key characteristics, such as education and income, as for the independent influence it exerts on these two political processes. For immigrants from most countries under examination, lower levels of education and income discourage citizenship acquisition. An exception is found among Britons, for whom lower levels of income encourages naturalizing. In the voting process, higher levels of education encourage voter turnout for most immigrant groups. Though country of origin has a greater effect on naturalizing than on voting, it significantly impacts both types of political incorporation. The differing effects of country of origin and other demographic factors on naturalizing and voting, respectively, suggest the two processes are distinct from one another.