Integration of immigrants in different contexts

n this paper, we explore gender differences in naturalization among migrants from DR Congo in Belgium. First, we measure gender differences in probabilities of acquiring Belgian citizenship using two data sources (population register and the MAFE survey on Congolese migrants in Belgium). Using the MAFE survey, we next look at the determinants of naturalization using event history data and test several hypotheses on the determinants of naturalization. Finally, we look at the differential effects of naturalization among males and females, and argue that this allow understanding gender differences in the propensities of changing citizenship.

The religiosity of Muslim immigrants in Europe has become a popular topic for research. Where recent quantitative studies show that secularization is stagnating, qualitative studies have found the emergence of localized version of Islam; such as a French, Dutch or British Islam. Quantitative studies that have used general population surveys may have underestimated the role of cross-national differences because of problems of sample selection. One of the few cross-national migrant studies, TIES, focuses on the second generation. This paper aims to complement existing knowledge by analyzing data from a migrant-survey conducted in six European countries (SCIICS) among two immigrant groups (Turks and Moroccans) and includes multiple generations. It looks at four indicators of religiosity: religious identification, mosque visits, observance of dietary rules, and religious orthodoxy. It examines a range of individual level factors including social contacts with majority group members and residence country identification. At the residence country level, effects of policies of religious accommodation are explored. The results show several significant cross-national differences but these cannot easily be traced back to differences in religious accommodation or religiousness of the majority population.

The study tried to measure the effect of religious affiliations and religiosity on marriage timing of people in United Kingdom. Special Emphasis is being put on the Muslim people due to previous finding from 2001 census which found that Muslim people tend to marry earlier compared to other religious groups in United Kingdom. Since Majority of Muslims in United Kingdom is from South Asian descent, this issue is closely related to the issue of how immigrants in United Kingdom are adapting to the British culture. Understanding Society wave 1 data which contains sample boost on ethnic minorities was used in order to get more samples from Muslim people. Analysis of Survivor functions was used to measure the change in marriage timing over time while Cox proportional Hazard model was used to measure the effect of covariates on marriage timing. It is believed that the role of cultural and religious values are still very strong among Muslims in United Kingdom, which results in support toward practices and attitudes that facilitate early marriage for Muslim people in United Kingdom.

Keyword: Muslim, Marriage Timing, Immigrants, Cox Proportional Hazard Model, Religiosity

This study aims to examine the effect of national identity on the acceptance of foreign immigrants as citizens among Koreans. According to the existing literature, Koreans tend to hesitate to accept foreign immigrants as Korean citizens while accepting them as friends or co-workers. Although there has been a lot of interest in social distance among different ethnic groups, there are few studies examining why Koreans are so much committed to the meaning of being “citizen”. This paper focuses on the role of national identity in explaining Koreans’ hesitation to accept foreign immigrants as citizen. Since Korean hold strong national identity such as ethnic identity and national pride, they are less likely to accept other ethnic groups as the same member of nation. This paper argues that exclusive attitudes toward other ethnic groups can be understood if we examine the role of national identity.
Analyzing the 2010 Korean General Social Survey, this study examines the effect of national identity on acceptance of other ethnic groups as citizen. The results show that ethnic identity has the strongest impact on the acceptance of other ethnic groups as citizen.

The last three decades have seen a consistent rise in the relative percentage of non-nationals residing in the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries, including Kuwait. This increase has resulted from two main factors, the continued demand for skilled as well as unskilled workers, and an exacerbation of the stock of workers and their families residing in the Gulf for lengthening periods of time. Migration policies do not allow non-nationals to become Kuwaiti citizens, except in very rare circumstances. Yet, a sizeable percentage among non-nationals, 18 %, consist of 2nd generation residents, born and raised in the country.

A survey of the achievements, aspirations and plans of 2nd generation non-nationals was conducted by the author in May-December, 2012, focusing on high school students in 11th and 12th grades, and on working men and women. 1000 students and 250 working persons born in Kuwait and who lived at least half their life in the country were included.

This paper analyses the contradictions between government policies to reduce the percentage of non-nationals in the population and labor force and the aspirations and plans of the 2nd generation non-nationals to live and work in the country for the next several years.