Explaining Outliers: A Closer Look at Migrant Enfranchisement in Germany and Belgium

Abstract

In this chapter, we trace the process of successful and failed enfranchisement of migrants and ask how and why this successful adaptation to the EU norm took place in Belgium and why has it failed to take place in Germany against our expectations. A bottom-up analysis using process tracing and textual analysis of the Belgian parliamentary and media debates during two legislatures, one of which failed in its attempt to extend voting rights to migrants (2002) and one which succeeded (2004), is presented. We suggest that it was a combination of an ideological shift in the dominant conception of citizenship in favour of a considerably more liberal policy (although still approximating the civic-collectivist model) along with a resolute political will on the part of a significant minority of the centre-right which brought about the policy change. Ultimately it was domestic political party factors that determined if and when migrants would be included in the franchise but this was contingent upon a number of contextual factors and events discussed in the case study.