Political (dis)Engagement during the Transition to Adulthood Among Ethnic Minorities in Five Western Countries

Social boundaries and perceived discrimination are particularly salient for the political socialization of ethnic minority adolescents and young adults. Research on the political incorporation of ethnic and racial minorities is dominated by two competing perspectives. On the one hand, the racialization of immigrant groups can result in a reactive ethnic identity and disengagement from the political sphere. On the other hand, theories of ethnic resilience and pan-ethnic organizations point to co-ethnic social capital as a resource for collective action and political mobilization, especially for oppressed minority groups. We investigate the relationship between perceived discrimination and political engagement among ethnic minority adolescents and young adults in five countries: England, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the US combining data from the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study in four European Countries (CILS-4EU) and the Panel Study of Income Dynamics Transition to Adulthood (PSID-TA) in the US. We expect a stronger political apathy in contexts where youth are disconnected from co-ethnic/pan-ethnic organizations, including churches and mosques, that can mobilize political engagement.