Intercultural Policies in Spain: Insights from the Intercultural Cities' Experiences Assessing Local Strategies for Inclusion, Dialogue, and Anti-Discrimination

Abstract

Over the past 25 years, Spain, along with several of its regions and municipalities, developed various policies aimed at integrating people of foreign origin—an integration often framed, at least formally, in intercultural terms. The State, several regions, and multiple municipalities have implemented plans, programs, and resources to foster intercultural dialogue and exchange. In fact, Spain is the country with the second-highest number of cities participating in the Council of Europe’s Intercultural Cities programme (ICC). This research brief succinctly analyzes key characteristics of intercultural policies in a set of Spanish intercultural cities, focusing on their efforts to combat racism and discrimination, as well as the main challenges they currently face. The findings presented are primarily based on a series of interviews with key actors involved in the development of these policies across various Spanish municipalities. Participation in the Intercultural Cities Network has served as a pathway to political and social engagement with the intercultural paradigm, as well as a means of promoting inclusion and conviviality. However, there are notable differences between cities, and significant progress remains to be made in combating discrimination and evaluating these policies effectively.