How Migrants Transfer Political Norms from Host Country to Home Country

• In Event: Public Attitudes, Immigration, and Refugees

Abstract

The migration and transnationalism literature has demonstrated that migrants transfer political and social norms to their family and friends at home. However, observing the mechanism through which this occurs has been more difficult. Are these norms transferred explicitly through political conversations or implicitly through simple contact and exposure? I address these questions using an original survey aimed at Arab immigrants and expatriates around the world that questions respondents as to the nature and closeness of their relationships with family and friends at home, specifically asking if migrants engage in political conversations, and what their own political perceptions of their home country are. I distinguish between those living in democratic countries and those living in autocratic countries to determine if there is a systematic difference in the norms migrants transfer and how that transfer occurs based on the regime characteristics of the host country. The results show that, while there are many similarities in migrant concerns across different countries of residence, those in democracies show greater support for democracy and are more likely to discuss political issues with their family at home compared to those living in autocracies. Additionally, there are notable differences depending on country of origin, with Syrians in particular less likely to express support for democracy or report political discussions regardless of their current country of residence.

Author

• Nadia Eldemerdash, University of Nevada Las Vegas