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This article has its origins in my doctoral dissertation, submitted to the University of Barcelona in 2011. As a part of the investigation's theoretical framework, it explores the sociopolitical and symbolic context through which, since the mid-80s in Spain, the migration from non-EU countries has become a focus of intervention and public debate mediated by metaphors of otherness and negative differentiation. The paper explores three interrelated issues: (i) the dynamics of labor migration in Europe since the post-war period until the 1973 oil crisis; (ii) the political, administrative and legal dynamics that began to emerge in the Spanish context thereafter, designed to regulate immigration, and (iii) the set of representations and discursive strategies around non-EU immigration and immigrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inmigration is a frequent issue in the media as well as in the personal encounters of people. The social interest of this topic is evident. According to official figures in 2001 there were in Spain 1.1 million foreigners, that is, near 3 percent of the total population of Spain and less than half of the ones of the EU.s countries. We continue having a low migration rate. though this is not impediment for its growing interest to study it. To this, it is also strange to learn that no body talks of the Spaniards living abroad except at electoral limes. At the beginnings of year 2000, there were 1.57 millions, much more than the immigrants. If we had them in mind, our behavior with the foreigners, especially iberoamericans, would be different, more just and solidary. Therefore, in this paper, I try to explain the number, causes, characteristics and consequences of the Spaniards abroad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]