A aquisição de cidadania nacional por imigrantes em Portugal e em Espanha

o papel do multiculturalismo

Abstract

Against the backdrop of an adverse reaction to immigration in Europe, this article examines the public policies of Portugal and Spain regarding the acquisition of their national citizenship by immigrants. It assesses the extent to which these policies are converging towards a common model. Using a qualitative comparative analysis, the study also aims to understand how the two Iberian countries have evolved their approaches by examining the dominant theories on the variation of citizenship regimes. The variation in public policies between the two countries is primarily associated with the influence of political ideas, particularly the commitment of centre-left parties to multiculturalism. The research highlights Portugal’s divergent approach in relation to the supposedly restrictive adverse reaction observed in Europe, whereas Spain continues to maintain an assimilationist model in the 21st century.