This article presents the results from one of three case studies conducted for the project Supporting opportunities: insights from communities supported by the Robert Bosch Stiftung. As part of the activities of the Observatory on Social Mobility and Equal Opportunity, the project aims to complement the OECD’s long-standing quantitative work on inequality and social mobility with qualitative evidence and insights from the ground. In collaboration with civil society organisations (CSOs) that work on the ground to reduce inequality, the OECD has gathered the perspectives of disadvantaged communities in Mexico, Germany and Japan on perceived barriers to social mobility and shared solutions to build a fairer society greater opportunities for all. The results, shared through a series of articles, aim to amplify the voices of CSO experts and of those affected by inequality, make previous quantitative research more tangible, stimulate public debate and raise awareness. The project also contributes to the WISE Centre’s efforts to better understand people’s perceptions, views and concerns regarding the distribution of resources and opportunities in society.
Integration of immigrants: A topical issue for OECD countries and Germany
International migration to the OECD has steadily increased since 2020, reaching around 6.5 million new permanent immigrants in 2023 (excluding Ukrainian refugees). Integration remains a pressing policy issue in many OECD countries, including Germany, where immigrants and their children make up more than 20% of the national population – making it the OECD’s second largest immigrant-receiving country in absolute terms. Since the early 2000s Germany has implemented national integration policies to promote the inclusion of these diverse communities. Various action plans have aimed to enhance access to equal opportunities, language lessons, training, work, education, and social integration. Recent legislative reforms, such as the Second Act Amending the Nationality Act, have further lowered barriers to citizenship. Additionally, initiatives like MY TURN and Jugendmigrationdienste have focused on tackling integration challenges for immigrants facing multiple disadvantages, such as women and young people. These combined efforts have yielded positive results, including higher employment rates for immigrants and their children, reduced poverty rates, and a lower risk of being NEET (not in employment, formal education, or training), compared to their peers in other EU countries.
However, immigrants and their children continue to face worse outcomes compared to their native-born counterparts across several areas, including their participation in public life. Although in Germany more than one in four individuals are immigrants or native-born to immigrant parents, on average they make up only 7 percent of the members of the country’s 16 state parliaments, according to recent estimates. This means that the political process could benefit more from diverse realities and perspectives of all population groups.
A qualitative research approach to complement and contextualise the existing quantitative evidence
Analysis and statistics on the political representation of people who are immigrants or native-born to immigrant parents remain relatively scarce in Europe compared to other underrepresented groups, such as women and youth. For example, while some barriers to the political representation of socio-economically disadvantaged people have been identified (e.g. limited resources and weak social capital), factors specific to immigration are often overlooked, partly due to a lack of data and the fact that immigrants have only more recently started to gain access to elected positions in Europe compared to North America.
Nonetheless, a number of key barriers have been identified, including the gatekeeping role of political parties. These aspects are often discussed in the context of specific government levels – whether municipal, regional, or national – and rely on varying measures of political representation, making comparisons difficult.
The OECD Centre on Well-Being, Inclusion, Sustainability, and Equal Opportunity (WISE) has partnered up with Deutschlandstiftung Integration, a German foundation dedicated to promoting equal opportunities for immigrants and their descendants. The organisation offers trainings, scholarships, mentoring, and internship programmes, along with national public campaigns to strengthen social cohesion. The project Diversify, in particular, supports young people to pursue political careers and aims to address the lack of diversity in German politics. In May 2024, a focus group and observations of Deutschlandstiftung Integration’s activities were carried out with their staff and beneficiaries, as well as semi-structured interviews – this format allowed flexibility to adapt the conversation by modifying, omitting or following up on pre-defined questions as needed. Participants shared their views and concerns and offered ideas for concrete policy options to improve the representation of immigrant communities in Germany’s political landscape.
A photo from the launch event of the Deutschlandstiftung Integration’s project “Together for a Diversity-Oriented Foundation System” aimed at reducing the barriers for immigrants and their descendants in pursuing careers at foundations.
The identified barriers to pursuing a career in politics are multifaced
While at times views varied, reflecting participants’ diverse identities (for example, based on their gender, refugee status, or ethnicity), common challenges to their political representation emerged. Participants emphasised these barriers are multifaceted and interconnected – ranging from educational biases and financial constraints to limited networking opportunities and experiences of discrimination – and take place in different contexts – at school and the workplace, in their communities and within their families.
One of the issues highlighted is obstacles when pursuing university degrees, which are often needed for a career in politics. Participants mentioned, for example, that children with foreign-born parents may be more likely to live in areas where Gymnasium schools – the only secondary schools granting direct access to university – are difficult to access. Furthermore, teachers make recommendations regarding secondary school placement too early (around age 10-13) and children of immigrants are more frequently directed toward secondary school tracks that do not lead to university, compared to their peers whose parents were born in Germany. The OECD’s PISA 2022 Results confirm that early academic selection can exacerbate educational segregation. A recent OECD working paper also highlights how teachers’ recommendations systematically guide students who are immigrants or native-born to immigrant parents, or from a lower socio-economic background, away from more academic programmes. While such recommendations are generally non-binding in many German federal states, families typically do not deviate from them.
In addition, achieving the necessary grades for the Gymnasium track is viewed as challenging for students with foreign-born parents. As reasons, participants cited perceived biased grading practices, language barriers, and limited academic support from families, which may struggle with time constraints and language obstacles. At university, these students often find themselves balancing academic responsibilities with supporting their families financially. This can in turn limit their ability to undertake (unpaid) internships, volunteer opportunities, achieve the highest grades, and engage in extra-curricular activities, ultimately affecting their future prospects.
Moreover, family dynamics can further hinder aspirations for a career in politics. Many interviewees indicated that economic insecurity at home leads parents to encourage their children to follow stable, high-paying career paths instead of pursuing political ambitions. Participants expressed feeling pressured to achieve financial success to support their families. Moreover, discussions about politics at home are rare, with some parents discouraging political involvement, believing that “nothing will change”. A participant also pointed out that restrictive cultural and religious norms within families can hinder the education and the workforce participation of girls and women.
Beyond family dynamics and educational and financial hurdles, participants highlighted that the lack of well-established networks put immigrants or their descendants at a disadvantage. Without these connections, they struggle to identify and seize opportunities, and access relevant information needed to navigate what many perceive as a complex and secluded political system. Many expressed frustration with the political environment, feeling that only a few political parties align with their ideological stances and are open to diverse perspectives. Even at events organised by parties they support, participants often felt isolated due to an absence of peers, prior connections, or welcoming interactions with party members. This sense of alienation can leave many to reconsider their party membership or even abandon their political aspirations. Additionally, the time and resources required to participate in local political events are often barriers for those already facing economic constraints.
Unfair treatment and prejudice add further challenges. In 2023, around 60% of EU citizens who identified as belonging to a minority based on ethnicity or skin colour reported experiencing discriminatory behaviour in the past year. Participants confirmed that discrimination is widespread, both in schools and workplaces. Within political parties, some noted being placed in unfavourable positions on electoral lists, which disheartened their ambitions for public office. Others voiced concerns about the potential repercussions of political engagement, including social media threats and backlash, hate speech, unequal treatment and acts of vandalism.
Many felt that their involvement will not bring about meaningful change. Contributing factors include prior disappointment in government responses, negative experiences with government services, a lack of visible representation, and the overwhelming complexity of the political system. These feelings are often passed down from immigrant parents to their native-born children. Participants acknowledged that the lack of trust in government often discourages descendants of immigrants from pursuing public office, yet many remain motivated to build a career in politics.
The proposed solutions are targeted and must work in concert
To address these complex issues, participants called for comprehensive policy solutions that target the structural inequalities contributing to underrepresentation. They emphasised the need for joint action from both government and civil society organisations.
Both staff and beneficiaries of Deutschlandstiftung Integration highlighted education reforms as a critical step in breaking down some of existing barriers. They advocated for improved access to education and the inclusion of Germany’s migration history in curricula to foster understanding and mutual respect. At the university level, recommendations included fairer compensation for internships and expanded scholarship opportunities to ease financial burdens. Participants also stressed the need for effective communication efforts to ensure that information about opportunities reach those who need them most.
Peer support groups led by individuals with similar lived experiences were proposed as a means to provide safe spaces for sharing experiences, particularly concerning instances of discrimination. Further, to combat workplace discrimination, participants suggested initiatives such as subsidised blind recruitment practices, implementing quotas to promote diversity, and investing in sensitivity training across all departments, holding leadership accountable for these commitments. The OECD report All Hands In? Making Diversity Work for All also recommends these initiatives as effective tools to address discrimination, provided they are combined with more structural measures.
Participants stressed the importance of diverse role models in inspiring political ambitions. Many credited exposure to such leaders with sparking their own interest in politics. However, concerns were raised about the limited diversity in high-profile political roles, particularly in areas like finance or foreign affairs. Participants recommended engaging with role models earlier in educational settings. Suggestions included hosting events featuring diverse leaders and increasing the representation of immigrant teachers to inspire students.
Creating equitable pathways into public life for immigrants and their children requires targeted actions to break down structural barriers and reinforce trust. While participants acknowledged the essential role of public policy, they stressed the importance of civil society organisations in facilitating discussions, sharing experiences, and amplifying diverse voices within communities. By fostering inclusivity and collaboration, civil society contributes to a more cohesive and equitable society, ensuring that everyone has a stake in shaping the collective future.
