1. The micro-politics of immigration: Service responsiveness in an Australian `ethnic electorate.'
- Author
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Zappalà, Gianni
- Subjects
- *
EMIGRATION & immigration , *PRACTICAL politics , *ETHNIC groups , *MINORITIES , *REPRESENTATIVE government - Abstract
Although discussion of the politics of immigration has generally been at a macro-level, the politics of immigration also occurs at the micro-level, in particular in electorates with a high proportion of immigrant citizens. The nature of constituency work in such `ethnic electorates' has, however, been ignored by political scientists in Australia. This article presents findings from the first in-depth study of an MP's case-work in one `ethnic electorate'. They suggest that the majority of the MP's clients were constituents from non-English speaking backgrounds [NESB] who visit their MP with regards to immigration issues. The article also examines how constituents from NESB were aware of their MP's role and service and the MP's response to his constituents. Overall, findings suggest that analyses of the politics of immigration must also examine the micro-levels of politics and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 1998
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