Immigrant Associations and Political Participation as Civil Society: A Case Study in Barcelona

Abstract

This article renews the analysis on the role of immigrant associations as integration and political participation channels in host societies. The literature on the issue, especially the one developed in Spain, is put into dialogue with a case study based on several experiences of ethnographic fieldwork within the environment of immigrant associations in Barcelona. Although we find a scenario of subordinate relationship between associations and institutions similar to that reflected in the literature, some new developments emerge: the consolidation of stronger associative leaderships, more intense relationships with institutions, political parties and with the governments of the countries of origin, greater cooperation between organisations and a perspective towards the future in order to become an autonomous “civil society” and to participate definitely in the general public sphere.

Keywords

• asociaciones de inmigrantes
• participación política
• instituciones
• liderazgo
• sociedad civil