The potential of the ‘Welcoming Spaces’ concept for revitalising shrinking regions
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2020-12-10
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en
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Abstract
Spain has about 4.000 population cores close to demographic extinction and, simultaneously, has one of the highest numbers of foreign inhabitants in the EU. This research is focused on connecting these two migration processes: depopulation and immigration through the possible application of the welcoming space concept as a call to new inhabitants for shrinking regions. As the concept welcoming space, similar yet different to integration, is relatively new and can be subjective, this research focuses on analysing this concept and examining its possible use to revitalise shrinking areas. By conducting a case study of Calamocha, a village that suffers from severe depopulation but also immigration flows, interviews were held with locals in order to know their opinion towards immigration, integration, welcoming spaces and the possibility of reversing depopulation through immigration. Answers drove to a series of conclusions that show a difference between integration and acceptance of immigrants; a possible definition of what a welcoming space is and if it could be used to revitalise shrinking areas, studying similar projects that help the arrival of newcomers to depopulated regions; and whether Calamocha could be considered a welcoming space.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen