Lokaal stemrecht, internationaal effect? De invloed van het (ver)taalbeleid van lokale politieke partijen op burgerparticipatie onder migranten in een pluralistische samenleving: een receptieonderzoek onder Franse inwoners van de stad Utrecht.

Abstract

[""In a pluralistic society where newcomers increasingly play vital roles, the use of Dutch texts in political communication poses challenges for civic participation among non-Dutch-speaking residents. Despite the fact that European migrants have the right to vote in local Dutch elections, the political language policy adopted by municipalities and political parties may exclude this group during crucial moments of public participation. In the past decade, the number of non-Dutch-speaking eligible voters has substantially increased due to immigration, particularly in urban areas. This demographic trend poses questions about its possible connection to the declining local election turnout, reaching a historic low of 50% in 2022. Yet, little attention has been devoted to providing accessible information to non-Dutch-speaking residents. The persistence of Dutch as the dominant political language warrants investigation, as language can signify “exclusion” that extends beyond simply voting, holding both instrumental and symbolic effects. Offering political texts in multiple languages may increase engagement among a more diverse population. This thesis explored how French residents in Utrecht perceive the linguistic access to local voting rights. A questionnaire was used to assess whether translations of electoral programs effectively reached the target audience. Additionally, the study employed a critical discourse analysis to examine the purpose and impact of the translations. Results indicate that translated election programs serve limited practical purposes within this research group. However, voting propensity is still lower among individuals who have lived in Utrecht for shorter periods. This group expressed a desire for more translated materials. Also the experienced group indicated a lack of essential information. Whereas translated election programs are not the decisive factor in voting decisions, all respondents positively embrace translated voting guides. Furthermore, the assumption that this group would feel symbolically addressed by texts in their own language is questioned, as an overwhelming majority prefers information to be provided in English. Nevertheless, this does not mean translated materials have no instrumental or symbolic utility. Many respondents, especially recent newcomers, indicate that they need translations to make an informed voting decision, consequently motivating them to participate in local politics. Their participation in local politics is justified as their often short stay in Utrecht is part of a constant flow of migrants. Therefore, their vote may not impact them as individuals but future migrant groups. Ultimately, this study therefore advocates for the inclusion of English translations in political communication, such as voting guides, websites or social media, to enhance civic participation, specifically among non-Dutch-speaking residents, and to foster a more inclusive and representative democracy in the municipality of Utrecht.""]