Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
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.