The integration of immigrants. rationale for addressing global policy intervention.

Abstract

The growing flows of foreign immigrants toward Spain, as well as their characteristics and the diffusion of the phenomenon through the media, have helped to make immigration a matter of great consequence in spanish society. For this reason, the Government and Public Administrations have undertaken the task of elaborating different proposals for action. These have altered with the changes in the migrant phenomenon and in the dominant political direction. Put together these form the so called «Immigration Policy». The article reviews the main actions of the Spanish Government from the year 1985 until the present time, establishing the differences between a policy of control of flows and an integration policy. The first has been profusely developed, but not the second. The actions put into practice, do not have clear definitions of the main aim (integration) or lack sufficient knowledge of the effects of the specific actions. In face of the challenge of designing a coherent integration policy, the article stresses the need to think previously about the way in which this process should be carried out and to count on a solid and reliable methodological tool to help us in this assignment.