From Emigration to Immigration : The Changing Face of Spain.

Abstract

Through a series of economic, political and social changes, Spain has experienced an extreme shift from emigration outflows to immigration inflows in the 20th and 21st centuries. This project examines both eras in Spain?s history and attempts to identify the factors behind the relatively rapid shift. First, this project analyzes the Spanish Civil War and the political refugees forced to leave the country and stay in exile during the Franco regime, as well as the emigrants who left Spain during the later part of the century for economic reasons. Then, it focuses on the immigration trends that Spain is facing today, and attempts to connect this trend to the current economic state of the country. The project concludes by comparing the two eras and considering reasons behind the differences.