Political resocialization of immigrants 1975-1976 - Native Swedes

The research project Political Resocialization of Immigrants (PRI) examines political interest and participation among immigrants. The aim of the project was to study immigrant´s relations to community and politics; their living conditions; experiences of immigration to Sweden; factors possible to stimulate increasing political commitment; political attitudes and political behaviour; representatives and demands; information about the Swedish administrative and political system. More than 2 500 interviews were conducted in 1975-1976 with random samples of immigrants born in Finland, Yugoslavia, Poland and Turkey, and a comparison group of Swedish citizens in the 18-67 age group and domiciled in Stockholm municipality. Stratified samples drawn from among the respondents from the first-wave survey were reinterviewed in an election survey during the weeks following the municipal elections of September 1976, in which immigrants participated for the first time. The first-wave interview included questions on: time of moving to Sweden and Stockholm respectively; places of living; language spoken by the respondent, and language spoken by partner and children; newspaper read (Swedish and from native country) and news listened to (Swedish and from other countries); how the respondent would act in a situation when there is a risk of unemployment; circle of friends; organizational membership and activities; knowledge of who to address in Stockholm in different situations; contacts with authorities; important problems in society; interest in Swedish politics; participation in elections in native country and in Sweden; comparison of the personal situation in a number of areas at present and when living in native country; own situation compared with other immigrants and with Swedes respectively; present and earlier occupation; placement in a ´pyramid of society´ in native country and in Sweden; organizational activities of parents; religiosity, own and parents´. In connection with this interview the respondent had to fill in a questionnaire, in which she/he had to state if she/he agreed or not with a number of general statements and a number of statements concerning her/his own nationality. The election survey included questions about election programs in radio and television, study circles discussing the election, information pamphlets, political meetings, knowledge of candidates, voting, important issues in the election campaign, political parties with special interest in issues concerning immigrants, attempts to influence other people how to vote, comparison between Swedish political parties and parties in the native country, interest in election turn-out, and when the respondent decided to vote/not to vote.