Date of Award

Spring 5-28-2025

Document Type

Campus Access Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Public Policy

First Advisor

Heather MacIndoe

Second Advisor

Michael P. Johnson

Third Advisor

Margaret Post

Abstract

Despite significant research on immigrant political behavior, African immigrants’ political engagement remains underexamined, particularly with respect to how nonprofit organizations might influence this behavior. This dissertation fills that gap by investigating the political participation of African immigrants in the U.S., focusing on the role of immigrant-serving nonprofits in policy advocacy and political mobilization. The study uses a mixed methods approach consisting of surveys of African immigrants (N = 127) and interviews with nonprofit leaders (N = 33) in Worcester, Massachusetts. The study examines three types of nonprofits– human services, religious groups, and community groups – to determine their impact on African immigrants’ political engagement. Findings indicate that African immigrants participate in electoral and non-electoral activities. However, broader participation is limited by individual and systemic barriers, including discrimination, economic challenges, immigration status, and time constraints. Immigrant-serving nonprofits primarily focus on service provision, with advocacy as a secondary function to improve resource access rather than direct policy change. The study introduces the concept of “nonprofit connectedness” to examine how nonprofit engagement influences immigrant political participation. Findings reveal that immigrants’ connections with religious groups and human services nonprofits positively impact non-electoral and overall political activities but do not independently influence electoral participation. This study deepens our understanding of African immigrants’ political behavior and nonprofit advocacy. It offers practical insights for strengthening immigrant political engagement and refining nonprofit mobilization strategies in the U.S.

Comments

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