Local Immigrant Councils as a Form of Participation and Governance: How Institutional Design and Agency Matter

Abstract Over the past decades, Western European municipalities increasingly reacted to presence of immigrants with efforts include these new residents in local policymaking. As part this, many cities installed immigrant councils, allowing newcomers participate political sphere and bring their needs interests into process. Even though councils became strongly institutionalized countries like Germany, role has been described as ambiguous relationship authorities unequal. Existing research examined a form participation urban governance investigated institutional design agency involved actors. Yet, date, we have little that systematically links structures bodies’ policymaking collaboration municipal Based on qualitative two German cities, this article takes fresh look at involvement cities. It finetunes previous findings by showing bodies do not necessarily be tokenistic. Strengthening rights, countering forms discrimination side-lining bolstering ownership officials leaders for are three strategies can support governance.