Shuguang WANG, Ryerson University, Canada
The level of political participation and representation of ethnic minorities and immigrants is a strong indicator of two parallel occurrences: an incorporating and inclusive legal system of the state, and the degree of political integration of the ethnic minorities and immigrants in the host country. Using the Political Opportunity Structure thesis as the analytical framework, this paper examines the political participation and representation of the South Asians and the Chinese in the Great Toronto Area – the largest and the most diverse metropolitan region in Canada. The study found that the South Asians have achieved a higher level of representation in both the federal and provincial governments than the Chinese, but they are under-represented in municipal governments. The Chinese are consistently under-represented in all three levels of government with a ‘democratic deficit’. The differences between the two groups can be explained by their variations in Canadian official language proficiency, but the results also support the hypothesis that immigrants from autocratic countries of origin have a lower propensity to vote and stand for election. While the South Asians and the Chinese have become more enthusiastic and active in political participation, more can be achieved in their political representation, especially the Chinese group. They should also strive to increase their level of representation beyond the small number of ethnoburbs. As a final note, a high level of political participation and representation of ethnic minorities should not be viewed as a force of weakening Canada’s ability to control its border and people. Instead, it should be seen as a high level of incorporation and loyalty on the part of the immigrants and their co-ethnics.
Mots clés : Political participation|electoral politics|South Asian immigrants|Chinese immigrants|political geography
A103099SW