The Paradox of Immigrant Political Participation in Europe amidst Crises of Multiculturalism

In Europe, there is a narrative of a crisis of multiculturalism. The narrative assumes Europeans have been too generous and tolerant towards immigrants; that illiberal immigrants, from predominately Muslim countries, have exploited that tolerance to institutionalize their own anti-Western value system; and that a crisis of multiculturalism emerged because such groups were unable and unwilling to integrate into liberal European countries, leading to polarization and segregation. The narrative then pushes for a political solution to alleged cultural conflicts and has serious, stigmatizing affects for Muslim immigrants. Taking Amsterdam as a case study, this chapter analyzes the effects on immigrants’ political participation.