Between Memory and Opportunity: The Descendants of Spaniards in Argentina and Access to Citizenship

In 2007, the Law of Historical Memory (52/2007) came into force in Spain, including a temporary provision in its text, the 7th Additional Provision, which responded to a longstanding demand: nationality for the grandchildren of Spaniards. However, the inconsistencies of this provision excluded potential Spaniards, who continued to press their claim until the approval of the Law of Democratic Memory (20/2022), which again provides, albeit temporarily, a pathway through its 8th Additional Provision. The motivations behind the demand and application for Spanish nationality reflect the transmission of a dual legacy, both material and symbolic. The desire to become Spanish is a reaffirmation of the identity learned and inherited; it is a form of reparation and recognition for the first migrant generations. Yet, it also serves as a practical tool for accessing resources and expanding migratory opportunities.
This proposal centres on a longitudinal and intersectional study of the significance of Spanish nationality for descendants of Spaniards in Argentina, as both a symbol of identity and a means of facilitating mobility within a transnational space.
To this end, a qualitative methodology based on a biographical approach was applied. This method has been selected in line with the research topic, aiming to reconstruct migrant, family, and historical memories through informants' narratives, allowing for the construction of family life stories from different perspectives (gender, generation, and place of residence). From this qualitative material, we produced genograms—graphic diagrams that represent family structures and interpersonal relationships—which hold significant potential for reproducing the dynamics of family mobility and immobility.