The social positioning of immigrants and the social order problem

Abstract

Hobbes formulated the social order problem in a context of civil war. Is the social order problem perspective applicable to tackle with immigration in 21st century Spain? Terrorist attacks in the USA (2001) and, more recently in Europe carried out by citizens of Muslim countries or by European citizens with immigrant and Muslim background, have provoked a fear of the generalized immigrant. Radicalisation of young people of Muslim background, youth gangs (Latin gangs in Spain) and mass immigration from poor countries in a context of deep economic crisis raise a concern for Western countries ́ populations. The concept of social positioning is adapted to the immigration processes. Statistical analyses are developed based on the European Social Survey data for Spain. The aim is to unveil the perception of Spanish population and of immigrants about the social positioning of immigrants in the Spanish social order.