Abstract

HUETE, Raquel  and  MANTECON, Alejandro. La participación política de los residentes británicos y alemanes en España: el caso de San Miguel de Salinas, Alicante. Rev. geogr. Norte Gd. [online]. 2012, n.51, pp. 81-93. ISSN 0718-3402.  doi: 10.4067/S0718-34022012000100005.

This study focuses on the northern European citizens living in the Alicante province (on Spain's Mediterranean coast), who are more like immigrants than tourists. This migration flow has become so significant that has brought about profound changes in many towns. Our objective is to examine the political role of these citizens in the regions where they are more present. Our analysis is based on demographic data and data on participation in the 2011 local election, as well as on a qualitative approach that delves into the informal processes of political participation. The fact that the influence of northern European residents on local political institutions has not grown at the same rate as their demographic weight is a consequence of both their lack of interest in public affairs and the interest of political elites in deactivating that participation.

Keywords : residential migrations; social fragmentation; residential tourism.