Algunos problemas para la participación cívica y política de los inmigrantes

Although immigration is changing the traditional meaning of citizenship, immigrants are still perceived as workers and not as political actors. In most European countries as well as in the EU, political rights of third country nationals, especially voting and standing as a candidate, are strongly restricted or not properly granted. This article provides an overview on some obstacles for migrants’ civic and political participation. Attention is not only focused on the existing legal restrictions, but also on several factors ranging from the new international political context and the performance of immigrants communities mobilization to the political integration conditions offered by western democracies to foreigners. Some notes on the recent immigrants’ local voting right debate in Spain are finally added.

-Pablo.Miravet@uv.es