Immigrants’ National Identification: Meanings, Determinants, and Consequences

Abstract

This article provides a social psychological analysis of immigrants' identification with the country of settlement, that is, their host national identification. We first discuss national (dis)identification in relation to dual identity and religion. Subsequently and drawing on acculturation research and the social identity perspective, we discuss four conditions that can stimulate or hinder the development of national identification: sociostructural circumstances, perceived discrimination, identity undermining, and in-group norms. Furthermore, we underline the relevance of studying two largely unexplored yet important consequences of immigrants' national identification: the evaluations of other minority groups and political involvement. We conclude by recognizing the value of a dual identity and by proposing a number of policies that might facilitate its development. We also discuss the obstacles toward the creation of a harmonious dual identity. These obstacles are related to the way in which the national category is defined and to the four conditions mentioned.On June 13, 1998, President Clinton held a speech on diversity at Portland State University. After his introductory comments he stated "Today I want to talk about what may be the most important subject of all, how we can strengthen the bonds of our national community as we grow more racially and ethnically diverse." The continuing worldwide migration and the increased tensions after, for example, 9/11 and the bombings in London and Madrid have made this "most important subject of all" even more important. In the United States, there is a strong debate on migration and immigration policies and increasingly also about the position of Muslim citizens. In Europe, government leaders such as Cameron, Merkel, and Sarkozy have declared that multicultural policies have failed.

Building National Identity in Newborn Kosovo: Challenges of Integrating National Identity with Ethnic Identity Among Kosovar Albanians and Kosovar Serbs

“…However, attesting the reliability of the complexity measure for Serb participants, results based on measures of their identity complexity without the national category (i.e. based on their ethnicity and the two self-selected categories only, see, for example, Verkuyten & Martinovic, 2012 ) were highly similar to the results presented here.…”

European identity as a unifying category: National vs. European identification among native and immigrant pupils

“…That is, policy makers argue that multicultural policies of the earlier decades undermined immigrants' identification with their country of settlement (their host national identities), while this national identification is considered to be a key determinant of successful integration into the host society (Kundnani, 2007;Levrau and Loobuyck, 2013). However, as noted by Verkuyten and Martinovic (2012), the need for a common identity is not only advocated by assimilationist politics, but the proponents of multiculturalism as well argue that besides the recognition and affirmation of distinctive (ethnic) identities, a shared sense of nationhood is important for a well-functioning society.…”

“…Verkuyten and Martinovic (2012) note that the mean scores for minority groups are typically around the neutral midpoint of the scale, indicating a weak national identification. Research with children and young adolescents reveals similar results (Barrett, 2002;Carrington and Short, 1995;Lam and Smith, 2009).…”

“…There are structural obstacles that make it difficult for immigrants and their children to develop a sense of belonging to their host nation (see Alba and Foner, 2014;Verkuyten and Martinovic, 2012). Most importantly, in many countries, national identity is not represented as a civic category, but as an exclusive ethnic/racial category that does not include the ethnic background of immigrant minorities.…”

Predicting Protests by Disadvantaged Skilled Immigrants: A Test of an Integrated Social Identity, Relative Deprivation, Collective Efficacy (SIRDE) Model

“…Individuals who migrate as adults are permanently relocating to a new and very different cultural environment and often, in the process, become bicultural as they develop a new national identity while maintaining a strong cultural identity (Amiot & de la Sablonniere, 2010;Brown & Zagefka, 2011;Deaux, 2006;Grant, 2007;Verkuyten & Martinovic, 2012). This is one of the important reasons why people choose to immigrate to Canada: Their desire is for full social inclusion into Canada's multicultural society where they can maintain their cultural heritage in this democratic, multicultural country.…”