Immigrants’ membership in civic associations: Why are some immigrants more active than others?

• Published in: International sociology Vol. 27; no. 6; pp. 788 - 806
• Main Authors: Voicu, Malina, Rusu, Ioana Alexandra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.11.2012; Sage Publications; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Associations; Citizen Participation; Home country; Human ecology and demography; Immigrants; Immigration; Membership; Migrants; Noncitizens; Participation; Political Participation; Regression analysis; Social networks; Socialization; Sociology; Sociology of migrations; Sociology of organizations and enterprises. Bureaucracy and administration; Sociology of work and sociology of organizations; Spain; Values; Spain; participación cívica de inmigrantes; immigrant civic participation; Country of origin; participation civique des immigrés; socialisation; socialización; España; país de origen; Espagne; socialization; pays d’origine; Spain; Participation; Native Country; Association; Host country; Immigrant; Party Affiliation
• ISSN: 0268-5809; 1461-7242
• DOI: 10.1177/0268580912452172

This study focuses on the level of membership in associations of the migrant population in Spain. Three types of civic engagement are considered: participation in all types of civic associations, in associations for immigrants and in non-immigrant associations. The article investigates whether immigrants coming from countries with higher levels of civic participation are more likely to participate in civic associations and if immigrants who have lived longer in and stayed in closer contact with a home country with a higher level of civic participation are more likely to join civic associations. Data used come from the Spanish National Immigrant Survey (2007) and the World Values Survey (2000, 2005). The results of multilevel logistic regressions show that immigrants who have spent more time in a more participatory context at origin and who are in closer contact with these societies are more likely to get involved in civic associations at destination.