Politieke beïnvloeding door etnisch geaffilieerde organisaties: winnaars en verliezers van Europese integratie en toenemende diversiteit

In: Tijdschrift voor Sociologie; Europese integratie en europeanisernig: sociologische perspectieven, Band 32, Heft 3-4

Abstract

Research examines how organisations that identify with ethnic groups (immigrants, national minorities, the dominant majority) deal with the effects of growing ethnic diversity, as well as with European integration and related changes in the (inter)national political opportunity structure. Two hypotheses are derived from the literature: (1) groups with strong territorial identification perceive themselves as losers of growing diversity (and vice versa) and (2) groups that have a strong position within Europeanized national debates perceive themselves as winners of European integration (and vice versa). Both hypotheses have been nuanced: (1) territorial identification in itself is insufficient and self-perception also hinges on the degree to which one has an exclusive or inclusive identity; (2) groups with a weak position in Europeanized national debates show mixed self-perceptions: those groups with strong regional identification and/or national minorities tend to perceive themselves as winners, should the EU federalise and/or gain control over minority rights.