Regional Diaspora Engagement and Return as Economic and National Revitalization Strategy in Galicia, Spain.

Abstract

Since the 2008 global financial crisis, European countries have been impacted by a significant loss of workers. This has exacerbated not only the economic forecast of these regions but also caused an identity crisis. These dual economic and identity crises have resulted in social policies aimed at remediating both problems. Using the demographically advanced region of Galicia, Spain, as a case, this paper explores how the emigration of young, primarily educated, Spanish workers has impacted community outlook in the historically rural autonomous region. Galicia has created diaspora engagement policies to harness Galician potential abroad and to encourage homeland return. Within these policies, Galicia focuses on diaspora return and retention, which taps into not only ‘crisis’ era emigrants but also the multi-generational diaspora in Latin America. This paper uses content analysis and interviews with regional officials and Galician returnees to explore the construction of an ethnonationalist ‘solution’ to both the lingering regional economic crisis and the crisis of Galician national identity in the wake of an influx of migrants from other national groups. Findings suggest that the region greatly privileges ease of access of diaspora returnees due to the widespread belief that they are better suited to integrate and will create more opportunities for foreign investment by tapping into diaspora networks. These policies create an inherent ethnonationalist narrative, which privileges diaspora return in the wake of the Middle Eastern migrant ‘crisis’ without addressing the underlying economic issue that continues to push young Galicians to migrate