Beyond Opportunity Structures: Explaining Migrant Protest in Western Europe, 1975-2005 Articles uri icon

authors

  • STRIJBIS, OLIVER STEFAN

publication date

  • December 2015

start page

  • 1

end page

  • 22

issue

  • 1

volume

  • 3

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 2214-8590

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 2214-594X

abstract

  • The dominance of the political opportunity structure approach has led to an emphasis of institutional variables in the field of migrant mobilization. This paper critically discusses political opportunity structure theory and defends alternative explanations for variance in levels of ethnic protest among migrants. In particular, it is argued that cultural distance, social stratification, and transnational bonds might be the driving forces behind the political mobilization of migrants. The theories are tested with protest event data for seven European countries between 1975 and 2005.