The ethnic identity of Turkish and Moroccan immigrants living in Belgium: patterns and determinants

Abstract

In research about the ethnic identity of immigrants two opponent frameworks are used: the classical assimilation theory (Gordon, 1964) and the two-dimensional identity model of Hutnik (1986, 1991). According to the first theory immigrants can only identify themselves strongly with one group (their own ethnic-cultural group or the majority group). If the identification with one group becomes stronger, the identification with the other group will weaken. In the framework of Hutnik a strong identification with the own cultural group can be combined with a strong identification with the majority group. In his model this is the ‘acculturative identity pattern’. In this paper we test whether immigrants with Turkish and Moroccan roots have a one-dimensional or a two-dimensional ethnic identity. Moreover we try to find out which factors determine the identification of immigrants with the majority group (Belgians). Our concrete research question: do differences in economic, social and cultural capital have an impact on the identification of Turkish and Moroccan immigrants with Belgians? To answer this question we do a regression analysis on data gathered in two former coalmining communes (456 face-to-face interviews). The results indicate that it is possible for immigrants to develop an acculturative identity pattern, but at the moment only a minority of the Turkish and Moroccan immigrants feels Turkish/Moroccan and Belgian. Determinants of the identification with the majority group (Belgians) are educational level, age, majority language usage, the number of native friends, frequency of contact with family in the country of origin and the strength of in-group identification.