The Integration Trade-Offs of Political Representation

This article examines the trade-offs between social and political integration by analysing migrant political representation on municipal councils in Britain and France. The argument is that social integration may allow migrants to interact with the mainstream population but it also reduces the capacity to form effective group mobilisation. In turn, less mobilisation reduces the likelihood of electing co-ethnics. In comparison, social segregation may increase separation from mainstream society but it also increases effective group mobilisation. In turn, more group mobilisation increases the capacity to elect co-ethnics.