BGHS

Devrimsel Deniz Nergiz

Adaptation to Cultural Diversity in German Political Parties: An Empirical Study On Politicians with Migration Background (work in process)

Supervisor

Prof. Thomas Faist, PhD

Immigrants make up a sizeable portion of German population, yet they are quiet minimally represented in Germany's national, state (federal) and local legislative bodies. The ways in which immigrants lay claims to active participation in legislative decision making processes through political parties is rarely touched upon. This proposed study focuses on the modes of representation in one of formal venues of political power, political parties, which is embodied by political elite with migration background and hereby connects to a broader context of German political parties' adaptation to cultural diversity. The project, then, attempts to inquiry strategies, role and career paths followed by these political actors based on the ground of the affiliated party's capacity. The opportunity structure each party offer as an institution as important as both the politicians' career processes within the party (here selected group of politicians) being the agents. In particular Turkish origin political actors in German electoral politics, provide a relevant empirical field for the goals of the study due to the demographical composition in the country and also due to the comparatively higher number of politicians with migration background. Yet the study aims also to shed light on other migrant groups too. The research aim will be accomplished by documentary analysis of party debate papers on participation of more diversity groups to the party, together with a expert (elite) interviews with elected politicians at state and federal parliaments in Germany.

Curriculum Vitae