ABDIE KAZEMIPURDepartment of Sociology

Memorial University of Newfoundland

CRDCN Conference

Evidence-Based Policy Formation and EvaluationFredericton, NB

October 23-24, 2012

The Economics of Attachment: Immigrants’ Employment Experiences and Attachment to Canada

Predictors of Attachment to Canada

Attachmentto Canada

Pleasantnessof Socio-cultural Experiences

Interaction of Canadians withMuslims

Pleasantnessof Economic Experiences

Acknowledgmentof Discriminationagainst Muslims

PositiveImpressionof IslamInteraction of

Muslims withMuslims

Interaction of Muslims withCanadians

Positive Image of Canadians

INTERACTIONWITH OTHERS (social)

PLEASANTNESSOF EXPERIENCES

Social/Cultural Integration of Immigrants(pre-1960s)

Social/Cultural Integration of Immigrants:In the pre-1960s Environment, ....

• Most immigrants came from Europe• Were Self-selected (willing to confront the risks,

costs, uncertainties)• Came from many countries • Were dispersed in many neighbourhoods• Immigration was discontinuous• Host populations shared a common/clear identity

Immigrants were more inclined to assimilate

Social/Cultural Integration of Immigrants(post-1960s)

This study …• … examines the impact of

economic experiences of immigrants on the strength of their attachment to Canada• … controls for other relevant variables• … uses the data from the Longitudinal Survey

of Immigrants to Canada (LSIC)–7700 immigrants–2001-2005–3 waves(cycles)

...Religion matters

… and Gender matters

Conclusions• In a pull-driven international migration

environment…• … Immigrants’ attachment to their new homes is a

by-product …• … not of their conscious decisions but of their

experiences, … • … and particularly, their economic experiences.• Against this background, the situation of Muslim

immigrants calls for some attention…• … and that of Muslim immigrant women calls for a

particular attention.