It has been two decades since the human landscape began to change in the Lea Artibai region, on the coastal border between Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa. The Senegalese began to arrive to work in the fishing industry, they brought their families, they put down roots and today this area cannot be understood without their contribution. Their migratory process has almost always been viewed with a certain sympathy by the local population, perhaps because of the exotic aspect that was perceived in their arrival in such a clearly Basque environment and, without a doubt, because of their ease in connecting with the population that received them.
The history of African migrants in this area is, with all its nuances and difficulties, an example of harmonious integration of the migratory phenomenon, especially if we look at the children of this group. The image of the Markina pediment that accompanies this report, so expressive of the climate that is perceived in situ, is eloquent of this small success. However, immigration to the Basque Country also leaves other more complicated realities; The risk of segregation affects different areas of social life and it is evident that the management of this phenomenon is not always simple.
At this time, just over 13% of the population of the autonomous community of Euskadi has been born abroad and around 30% of the children born are children of mothers of foreign nationality. The phenomenon is not going to diminish, at least as long as the economy and employment are doing well, and taking into account the trends that occur throughout Europe, the issue demands proactive policies linked to cohesion and integration.
The director of Ikuspegi, the Basque Immigration Observatory, Julia Shershneva, considers that the field of education requires special attention in the Basque Country, since “we see that segregation by origin coincides with segregation by socioeconomic situation.” In any case, he considers that Basque society is at a point where “it does not perceive immigration as a problem”, which allows it to face this phenomenon rather as a challenge and, at the same time, keep it away from the political fray ( the issue has barely entered the campaign). “We have a longitudinal perspective of 20 years and, although negative perceptions increased during the economic crisis, in recent years they have gradually decreased,” she explains.
In Shershneva’s opinion, one of the keys for the coming years is to strengthen the areas for cohesion: “Education itself is an important part. Work is also another area for interaction, although we are very segmented. Sports can be another interesting field and, especially in Basque-speaking areas, Basque is an element of brutal cohesion that, at the same time, is a gateway to more stable jobs.”
The professor of Sociology at the University of the Basque Country Patxi Juaristi is directing research by the centenary Society of Basque Studies-Eusko Ikaskuntza on Basque identities looking to 2050: “The objective is to analyze what elements will make up the Basque identity in the coming years and which ones can unite us.” Juaristi resides precisely in Markina, one of the municipalities with the largest immigrant population and where he sees some positive signs. “In this municipality, Basque has become a very important element of social cohesion, especially among children and young people, wherever they come from,” agrees with Shershneva. According to a study by the Sociolinguistics Cluster, between 90% and 95% of conversations between children and young people on the streets of this municipality are in Basque, despite the fact that a high percentage of those who engage in them are of foreign origin.
“Perceptions that immigrants pose a threat to Basque culture or the Basque language, something we ask in our research, have decreased significantly. Immigrants reproduce our practices, and there in Euskadi there are very different cultural or sociolinguistic realities,” adds Shershneva.
The research developed by Juaristi, however, suggests that the phenomenon requires other social ties: “Certain socio-community values ??are very important: the acceptance of diversity, the connection with the territory, solidarity or social justice, an issue that appears a lot . It is very important that they perceive that they live in a society that does not displace them.”
Juaristi believes that the issue should be treated with the complexity and attention it demands. Within the Basque landscape itself, more problematic realities can be seen in which interactions with the migrant group are not abundant. The challenge is complex and in Europe there are many examples of parallel societies in which they have not been successful in addressing the phenomenon. “It is not simple; It is a challenge and requires promoting effective policies and the involvement of many agents,” concludes Juaristi.