Heterogeneity in Immigrants’ Municipal Engagement and Participation in Calgary

Canadian political science has a long history of studying elections at the provincial and federal levels, but there is a gap in studying municipal elections. Additionally, Canadian political science has some interest in studying immigrant participation in provincial and federal elections, but more research on immigrant involvement in municipal elections is required. The limited research on immigrant voting behaviour also combines immigrant communities into homogeneous groups for research purposes, which does not allow for a nuanced understanding of immigrant communities. Canadian political science, therefore, needs more research regarding immigrant participation in municipal government, engagement in local elections, and the differences among immigrant communities. My research addresses these gaps in three ways. First, I explore the differences between immigrant and non-immigrant groups in Calgary to establish potential differences in their levels of interest and attention to municipal politics. I then address the differences among immigrant communities when it comes to their engagement with municipal governments and their participation in local elections. I then turn to potential policy implications that could help immigrant communities engage with local government and elections. My research finds that while there are similarities between immigrant communities, there are also significant differences. These differences are important because they can shape how immigrant communities see municipal politics or their desires to participate. My research finds that scholars need to think simultaneously less and more about immigrants in Calgary’s municipal elections. Scholars need to think less about immigrants and immigration in the sense that what matters most is the duration, or the amount of time spent in a city, not their immigration status. However, scholars also need to think more about immigrants, as there were substantial differences among immigrant communities regarding interest, knowledge, and policy preferences. My thesis helps to build on the current literature by suggesting how Canadian political science could expand research into municipal politics and immigrant voting behaviour in a way that helps demonstrate the similarities and differences among Calgary’s diverse communities. While the thesis discusses several aspects of municipal government and participation, my research emphasizes the heterogeneity of immigrant communities’ participation in municipal elections.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Political Science

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Atwal, Ashpal

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Lucas, Jack

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Rice, Roberta
• Rayment, Erica
• Franceschet, Susan

• Municipal Politics
• Municipal Voting

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

https://doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/43219

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:1880/118377