Convictions in Context: Political Ideology and Migrant Engagement in Barcelona’s Brazilian Diaspora

This article explores how political ideology shapes the forms and intensity of political engagement among Brazilian migrants in Barcelona. Based on 25 interviews, protest observation, and digital ethnography, the study shows that while most migrants retain their ideological orientations after migration, the expression of those convictions varies significantly. Left-leaning migrants engage more visibly in local movements and public protests, especially through feminist and anti-racist activism, whereas right-leaning migrants are more likely to participate through private or digital means, often within evangelical or diasporic networks. The article argues that ideology acts as a filter through which migrants interpret legitimacy, belonging, and access to political space. It further demonstrates how local political climates—like Barcelona’s progressive leanings—can amplify or suppress certain forms of ideological engagement. By focusing on ideological persistence in a host-country context, this article contributes to the literature on transnational political behavior and migrant political subjectivity.