Political alienation among migrant youths: Exploring the mechanisms of political alienation and acculturation among migrant youths in Norwegian schools

This article addresses the following question: What characterizes the mechanisms of political alienation among non-Western immigrant students, and how might these mechanisms be related to student's acculturation attitudes? A theory of political alienation and acculturation is applied. Substantial quantitative data from Norwegian upper secondary school students reveals that non-Western immigrant students particularly see themselves as less politically involved than their Norwegian counterparts. Interviews were carried out with a selection of immigrant students from different background to explore the reasons for their political alienation. A number of mechanisms in political alienation were found and discussed. The interviews reveal a close link between political alienation, and the immigrant identity and their acculturation processes.