Abstract
This paper examines levels of commitment to democracy among first and second
generation of immigrants from authoritarian regimes in Australia and Canada both at the
attitudinal and behavioral levels. Findings indicate that commitment to democracy among
first and second generations of immigrants from authoritarian regimes lags behind that of the
locally-born populations and other immigrants socialized in democratic regimes as they
exhibit greater support for forms of regimes that are non-democratic. The analyses also
reveal, however, that immigrants from authoritarian regimes participate to the democratic
political process. They participate less in protest activities but participate as much as the local
population in communal forms of activities and more than the local population in campaign
activities. These findings suggest that pre-migration political experiences influence
immigrants’ political outlook and even to some extent that of the second generation of
immigrants.
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