Political and civic participation

There has been considerable research showing ethnic inequalities in political and civic participation.

young man at a Unison demonstration

In many areas, these inequalities have narrowed over recent years, though a deficit remains in voting, political participation and representation at both the national and regional levels. Similarly in the civic sphere, activism is less common in minority groups.

This group is concerned with understanding trends in ethnic inequalities in civic and political (including non-electoral) participation, and how these vary across generations and according to geographical and social context.

In particular, we examine how ethnic inequalities are driven by socioeconomic factors, patterns of party mobilisation, social networks and interpersonal mobilisation, and by political opportunity structures.

It is particularly important to address how ethnic inequalities are apparent in new forms of civic and political participation and how they are affected by changes in national and local population structures, especially through immigration.

Researchers