Settling in Spain: Integration and the Influence of Immigrant and Domestic Organizations

• In Event: 450 - Section on Sociology of Population Paper Session. Immigrant Integration and Inequality around the World

Abstract

Immigrant organizations have long been a salient part of the integration experience, working to both ease the adaptation of newly arrived immigrants as well as preserve cultural identity from the country-of-origin. Certain immigrant organizations act as vehicles for immigrants to maintain a presence in the community of origin, which raises concerns of the level of integration into host-country society that occurs with group membership. Involvement in domestic organizations may represent forays into the social sphere of the host-country by immigrants looking to bridge gaps between the host society and immigrant communities or take advantage of resources available to organization members. Both types of organizations in a host society represent avenues for immigrant incorporation. While previous research has focused on organizational characteristics and influence on immigrant integration, no current studies compare the influence of immigrant and domestic organizations on assimilation and test whether these organizations work together or contribute to different aspects of the integration process. This study attempts to bridge the gap in the literature by focusing on immigrant and domestic organization membership in Spain and its influence on future plans for settlement as well as intentions to bring additional immigrant family members to Spain. Using data from the 2007 Spanish National Immigrant Survey, this inquiry shows the unique adaptive effect of immigrant and domestic organization membership when controlling for established determinants of immigrant adaptation.

Author

• Christopher Scott Inkpen, Pennsylvania State University