Abstract

HUETE, Raquel  and  MANTECON, Alejandro. North European residential migration in Spain. Convergencia [online]. 2013, vol.20, n.61, pp.219-245. ISSN 2448-5799.

The unification of Europe has brought about the emergence of new migration flows between the EU Member States. A particularly significant flow is that of northern European citizens (mainly British and German) towards Mediterranean countries. This paper explores the problems that residential migrants from northern Europe face in southern Spain when they try to create a bond with the host society. With this aim in mind, we carried out a study in the town of San Miguel de Salinas, located in the southeast of Spain. Our methodological approach combined quantitative and qualitative research techniques. The findings show how the language barrier hides in fact a number of interconnected socio-spatial, political and economic aspects. As a result, a system takes shape that hinders the interaction between Spanish and northern European residents, and gives rise to processes of social fragmentation.

Keywords : international migration; residential tourism; social integration.

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