Too Close for Comfort? Immigrant Exclusion in Africa

Abstract

Why do some immigrant minorities in the developing world integrate into their host societies while others face exclusion and hostility? This paper offers new insights on the determinants of political identity and group relations in ethnically diverse societies through the lens of South-to-South migration. Using original data from surveys and interviews collected during twelve months of field research in West Africa, and a unique empirical strategy that allows for single-group cross-country and single-country cross-group comparisons, this paper tests the relationship between cultural proximity and immigrant exclusion. The analysis indicates that cultural similarities between immigrants and their hosts may limit immigrant integration because they motivate community leaders to highlight group boundaries. The results shed light on immigrant exclusion in Africa and contribute to the debate on the determinants of political identity in ethnically diverse societies.