Development of intercultural citizenship in San Quintin de Mediona by means of community nets

Abstract

This paper intends to better understand the reality of villages with fewer than 4,000 inhabitants and an immigrant population of over 10%. It based on a case-study carried out in Sant Quintí de Mediona. From a dynamic model of intercultural citizenship, there is a focus on acceptance and integration processes of immigrants and the enhancement of the optimal conditions for coexistence. The study of these conditions required a diagnostic evaluation to ascertain the nature of the population and of the migration process, initial policies developed for the acceptance of immigrants and the viewpoint of the participants in this process and the provision of entities that make up the community network to be open to the newcomer population. We collected all the information through a documental study, interviews with key informants, focus groups and a survey addressed to existing associations in the target population. From the data analysis, this diagnostic study includes the needs of structural change and of new relations of coexistence and education for the entire population and for specific groups. Once the findings of the search as well as their limitations are submitted, we propose to develop a Plan for Intercultural Citizenship for multicultural populations similar to the one studied, by strengthening community networks.