A Racializing Citizenship Regime in Spain? A case-study of the (un)exceptions in the process of Spanish/European citizenship acquisition/¿Un régimen de ciudadanía racializador en España? Estudio de caso sobre las (no)excepciones en la adquisición de ciuda

This proposal is being submitted for the 2022 season, which was delayed until Janaury 2023.

The project curently includes an 8-person team from 8 universities, including three international centers.

ABSTRACT
Citizenship signifies the deepest connection possible to the state. In turn, new citizens delineate the future composition of the nation. This project explores the use of ethnic and cultural criteria in (un)selecting certain populations as (un)preferred future citizens. In order to engage this object of study, this project focuses on the legal and procedural aspects of Spanish nationality acquisition as a possible case of institutionalized racial preference. The empirical material explores whether this stratified citizenship regime translate itself as a discriminatory system of migration policy, intertwined with the restrictive logics of the European Unions border regime. The PI has significatively contributed to the field of Migration & Border Studies at the international level. Currently an ARAID researcher, and based on his previous research trajectory, he has carefully put together an interdisciplinary and international team, ensuring gender parity and training in feminist theory and processes of racialization. As such, this project expects to advance scientific-technical knowledge in various Social Sciences disciplines, such as Human Geography, Social Anthropology, Political Science, Sociology, including the area of International Law, as well as the transdisciplinary fields of Migration & Border Studies and Critical Race Studies.

Criteria of scientific excellence guide this research on the implications of current legislation on citizenship acquisition. Research methodologies are mainly qualitative ones, conducting discourse analysis of pertinent legal texts, and interviewing those actors involved in the process of citizenship acquisition: on the one hand, migration lawyers, and on the other hand, citizenship applicants. The project focuses on two collectives, those from Sephardic and Moroccan origin, as opposite cases of citizenship acquisition based on the criteria of historical and cultural connection with Spain (vínculo). This selection is based on previous research conducted by several team members. Sephardim applicants are able to prove vínculo despite country of citizenship, and Moroccan applicants are not included in the list of countries with vínculo despite historical relationships with Spain, and being one of the larger historical migrant communities in the country. The communication plan to the scientific community is via participation in established academic conferences, and article publication in high-ranked indexed journals under Open Access. There is also a plan for dissemination to distribute pertinent findings among those actors affected by this legislation, and a series of transfer activities geared towards Human Rights organizations working on questions of social exclusion. Ultimately, the expected socio-economic impact of this project directly responds to the research clause on inclusive society found in the Spanish Strategy of Science and Technology, and Horizon Europe Program (2021-2027), producing scientific evidence to promote legal reforms and changes in public policies towards models of inclusive citizenship.