The paradox of integration: 3rd-gen Muslims are highly integrated, but report a stronger Muslim identity & higher perceived discrimination.
Because they expect equal treatment and interact more with the broader public, they are more aware of and sensitive to exclusion.
We also asked an open-ended Q: "What does Germany mean to you?"
Exposure to hate crimes or far-right rhetoric sparked terms like "racism". But importantly, it also invoked "justice," "freedom," & "tolerance."
Exclusion can intensify appeals to democratic ideals for protection.
The Puzzle: Third-generation Muslims in Germany are the most socially, economically, and linguistically integrated.
Yet, they are more likely to vote for left-wing parties than 1st and 2nd-generation Muslims.
Why doesn't integration reduce group-based voting?
Exposure to hate-crime cues increased support for the center-left SPD from 19.9% (control) to 33.4%.
These exclusionary cues sparked negative emotions like anger, which drove political mobilization rather than withdrawal.
To find out, we ran a survey experiment with ~1,000 Muslim Turks in Germany.
We randomized exposure to news clips showing anti-Muslim hate crimes & far-right AfD rhetoric.
The result? Both treatments increased political participation AND shifted votes to the left.
First, the big picture: Across 18 Western European democracies (2002–2020), there is a massive, persistent voting gap.
Muslims support left-wing parties at much higher rates than non-Muslims, often by >30 points. This gap spikes when the far-right enters parliament.
Excellent op-ed on nonviolent protest from @robbwiller.bsky.social and @owasow.bsky.social on the importance of nonviolence here www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/o.... Some additional points worth noting:
The takeaway: Integration and discrimination coexist.
Rather than weakening political cohesion, exclusion reinforces collective political behavior. Integrated minorities rally behind parties perceived as protective of their rights.
Read the full paper here: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
More women in radical-right parties doesn't mean progress—it means more conservatism. Our new study in @eupthejournal.bsky.social shows how female visibility is used to legitimize illiberal gender agendas, not challenge them.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
🚨 New paper! Does social integration change how minorities vote?
Classic theories say yes: voting patterns should converge with the majority. But looking at Muslim Turks in Germany, we found the exact opposite.
A thread on the integration puzzle 👇