Identity in Construction. Identity Definition in the Integration Process of the Bulgarian Community in Castile and Leon (Spain)

Abstract

[En] This paper will analyze the relevance of the identity management in the integration process of a group of migrants in South Europe. Based on the case study of the Bulgarian community settled in Castile and Leon (Spain), it will discuss the relevance of the different identity notions used by the migrant community and the local one, showing its relevance in different contexts. On the one hand, Bulgarian migrants develop a notion of “Bulgarianness” as a homogeneous group of people, hiding the internal ethnic and religious differences to the local population. At the same time, these internal differences become relevant in the inner context of the migrant community. Bulgarian people show a strategic use of the different identity roles in order to succeed in their integration at the local stage. Local people assume this homogeneous image of the Bulgariannes reinforcing this internal process of the migrant group.