Constrained Opportunities : A Comparative Study on the Impact of Immigrant Political Incorporation on Political Transnationalism

This study aims to understand political transnationalism through the political incorporation of migrants in the receiving country. With a qualitative analysis of the perceptions of transnational second-generation Turks towards the political opportunity structures in Germany and the Netherlands, it seeks an answer to the question ‘How do political opportunity structures in the receiving country shape political transnationalism among Turkish migrants in Western Europe?’ It suggests a causal explanation for the impact of political opportunity structures on political transnationalism through a model called ‘constrained opportunities’. The empirical results reveal ‘constraints’ on political opportunity structures that lead to deficient immigrant political incorporation in the country of residence and reinforce political attachment with the country of origin.