Is there a Trade-off? Dual Nationality and Simultaneous Political Involvement among Emigrants

Dual citizenship is a measure to manage the inclusion of migrants that is increasingly accepted by states and utilised by more and more individuals. Nevertheless, this policy is still contested in many countries. Recent scholarship contributes to better understand its consequences especially on the country of residence where the acceptance of dual citizenship has proved to increase naturalization rates. But what are the consequences for the country of descent when migrants naturalise in their country of residence without giving up their former citizenship? Are emigrants who acquired another citizenship less attached to and active in the country of descent than those who do not? This would be the assumption of traditional perspectives on migration and citizenship that expect a uni-directional process. However, according to transnational perspectives there are no necessary trade-offs: neither multiple nationalities, nor participation in and identification with the country of residence, would preclude ongoing ties and participation back home. We test these perspectives by analysing data of a representative survey that we currently execute among Swiss citizens residing in nine countries outside of Switzerland. Multivariate regression analyses will elucidate whether Swiss dual citizens abroad are less attached to and active in Switzerland than their mono national counterparts and whether there is a trade-off between identification with and participation in one country and equivalent involvement in the other.