Discursos del uno para con el otro entre los que están y los que llegan a España y EEUU: encuesta de opinión

Abstract

Spanish society has begun a process of change that started in the USA a long time ago. In both countries-as happened in Canada, Australia and European countries such as England, France or Holland-one of the major reasons for this change is the arrival of people from other places with different languages, cultures, religions and ideas. The main aim of the present study is to investigate the attitudes and opinions among the current population and those that are arriving in both the USA and Spain. To carry out such a study, first, I will bring to debate sorne terminological questions related to the concepts of "multiculturalism," "cultural diversity," and "interculturality" through the presentation of the more commonly accepted models "of integration." Secondly, I will introduce the topic of the social debate on migration in the media as an introduction to the empiric study that will follow. Thirdly, I will present the results of the opinion survey carried out in both countries among people of different geographical and cultural origin during 2001 and 2002. Finally, and considering the results of the survey, I will conclude with the similarities and differences between the North American and Spanish realities in relation to the debate about the current population and those that are arriving and their influence on the development of the social, political, and cultural life of each country.