The political representation gap between immigrants and natives persists across democratic parliaments.
We surveyed elected politicians, candidates for local office, and residents who have not run for office in Sweden ā stratifying samples by immigrant status. This innovative case-control survey linked respondents to local political opportunity structures.
Key Findings
- Political ambition doesn't vary significantly between immigrants and natives
- Differences in interest or efficacy cannot account for the underrepresentation gap
- Major barriers exist at the candidate selection stage rather than supply of potential candidates
Why This Matters
Our findings suggest political elites play a decisive role in hindering immigrant representation through gatekeeping mechanisms, despite ample candidate interest.
