One of the consequences of international migration and the permanent settlement of immigrants in southern EU countries is the growing number of inter-country marriages and the formation of transnational families. Using both quantitative and qualitative data, this article examines patterns of endogamy and exogamy (i.e. marriage within/ outside a particular group or category) among African immigrants in Catalonia, focusing on bi-national SenegaleseÁ/ and GambianÁ/Spanish couples. Socio-demographic profiles, transnationality, the dynamics of cultural change or retention, and the formation of transcultural identities are explored. The evidence presented suggests that social-class factors are more important than cultural origins in patterns of endogamy and exogamy, in the dynamics of living together and in the bringing-up of children of mixed unions. Such a conclusion negates culturalists' explanations of endogamy and exogamy while, at the same time, emphasising the role of social actors as active subjects in these processes. I further argue that mixed couples and their offspring deal*/to a greater or lesser extent*/with multiple localisations and cultural backgrounds (i.e. here and there), rather than experiencing a 'clash between two cultures'. Therefore, it would be a mistake to pretend that multicultural links do not exist and that they cannot be revitalised and functional. The paper starts and ends by addressing the complexities of processes of interculturalism, resisting an interpretation of hybridity and segregation as contradictory or exclusive realities.

The recent rise in Spain of mixed unions between people born in different countries has brought about a significant increase in the number of multiethnic and multiracial individuals in the country. However, no research currently exists in Spain on the life experiences and identity processes of these mixed-parentage youth. Drawing on 124 in-depth interviews, this article examines the narratives of ethnoracially mixed descendants from diverse backgrounds in Catalonia, Spain. Our results show that identity processes and experiences of being mixed are very heterogeneous and multifaceted, and that some individuals have more choices, versus constraints, when navigating mixedness. A crucial factor affecting these outcomes is visibilityi.e. visible markers of difference from the native society, such as phenotype, language, or religious affiliation. We find that while ethnoracially mixed individuals who have more outer characteristics shared with the native majority population can develop more advantageous, symbolic, and malleable identities, individuals whose heritage involves an ancestry that is negatively minoritised within the country of residence experience greater identity mismatch, stigmatisation, and discrimination. This finding is at odds with the 'postracial' or 'colour-blind' future that might ostensibly be heralded by an ever-growing Spanish population of mixed individuals.

A nthropologist Edmund Leach, in his discussion of caste and class systems, stated, "In a very fundamental way, we all of us distinguish those who are of our kind from those who are not of our kind by asking ourselves the question: 'Do we intermarry with them?'" (1967, 19). Indeed, social scientists have been drawn to the investigation of intermarriage for over a century: from the classic anthropological studies of the nineteenth century (McLennan 1865; L. Morgan 1870; Tylor 1889); to the development of classical assimilation theory, first by sociologists of the Chicago School led by Robert E. Park (Park and Burgess 1921; Park 1928) and later entrenched by Milton gordon (1964); to studies from more current times, in which the subject has been analyzed from many different disciplines. This fascination with intermarriage can be attributed to the realization that the crossing of racial, ethno-cultural, religious, or class boundaries

In the past few years, both assimilationist and multiculturalist approaches to the management of immigration and diversity have been called into question. This article is an attempt to critically review and examine the key points of the debate regarding assimilationism and multiculturalism, while arguing for an interculturalist model of socio-cultural incorporation that reconciles cultural diversity with social cohesion. This paper looks at both European and North American cases and contends that when support for diversity occurs within a framework of social justice and political equality, and when all members of society are permitted to fully participate in the public space, the result is a more cohesive, albeit plural, civic community.Résumé Depuis quelques années, tant les approches assimilationistes que multiculturalistes en matière de gestion de l'immigration et la diversité ont été remises en question. Dans cet article, on présente un compte-rendu critique et examine les éléments clés du débat portant sur l'assimilationisme et le multiculturalisme, tout en proposant un modèle interculturaliste d'intégration qui concilie la diversité culturelle et la cohésion sociale. Cet article étudie des cas européens et nord américains et affirme que lorsque l'appui à la diversité se fait dans un cadre de justice sociale et d'égalité politique où tous les membres de la société peuvent participer pleinement dans l'espace public, le résultat est une communauté civique plus cohésive, quoique multiculturelle.

This article examines the nexus between intermarriage and sociocultural dimensions of the integration of immigrants in Spain. The data presented draw on ninety-four in-depth interviews conducted with immigrants of seven different origins in exogamous (mixed) and endogamous (same-origin) unions in Catalonia, the region with the highest rate of immigration and ethnoracial diversity in Spain. We apply a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative analyses. We find that the relationship between intermarriage and integration is complex and multidirectional: intermarriage has a direct effect on some dimensions of integration (e.g., the expansion and diversification of personal/social networks) but has no relationship (e.g., for identification with the society of destination) or a bidirectional relationship (e.g., for the learning of official languages) for others. Furthermore, we find that the outcomes are context-dependent and may be moderated by factors such as country of origin or gender. In sum, our results suggest a much more nuanced picture of the nexus between intermarriage and integration than has traditionally been theorized.