43 – Historical Context of Spain

2023 No 43

But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel said to them, “You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves will together build to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us.”
—Ezra 4:3

When the children of Israel returned from their exile, one of the first things they sought to do was to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Those who had not been deported had mixed with the Samaritans to the North and retained, if not practiced, the same idolatry that had caused the exile in the first place. Israel rightly refused to join hands with theirs in the same labor. Their focus was on the temple, trusting that if redemption were available for the Samaritans, it would come on another day and by other means. From our vantage point, it is clear that this salvation became available through Christ. (John 4:41-42)

Spain has a long history of Christian faith. Paul expressed a desire to at least visit Spain in Romans 15:24-28. It is unknown if he ever really made it, but Christianity was undoubtedly well-established by the end of the first century. The church would continue to grow in the region until Islam gained a foothold in 711 AD. They (the Muslims) would then hold control of the Iberian Peninsula until 1492, when King Ferdinand V and Queen Isabella I conquered Granada in what has come to be known as the “Reconquista". The Spanish church regained control at that point, ultimately spreading the Christian faith through their colonies worldwide.

And yet, in ways beyond this post's scope, the Spanish people never truly regained their faith. Today, even though 58% of Spain’s people claim to be Christians, only 19% attend church regularly. Two percent of the population are Muslim and have become the second largest religious group behind Catholics. The remainder are either atheists, agnostics, or non-believers.¹ Today, Christianity is but a surface religion at best. It is simply not important anymore. A surprising EU study in 2015 revealed that only three percent of the Spanish population placed faith in a list of the top three things they valued.^²

One of the big topics in contemporary missiological studies is a concept called "reverse mission."³ It describes how European Christianity once spread across the globe like a fire, only to have the embers grow cold back home. Such is very much true in modern Spain. Keep in mind that the primary focus of colonial Spanish politics was on the "New World", but she also held African assets, including Equatorial Guinea from 1778-1810. The Spanish Church, in league with the government, sent numerous Catholic missionaries to all of her territories during this period. Many would come to faith. Tragically, however, many were converted by force. But that is yet another story.

More recently, Spain held parts of Morocco and Western Sahara as protectorates in the 19th and 20th centuries. They were eventually granted independence. Today, Spain maintains the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, along with the Canary Islands. And, as noted above, true faith in the Spanish mainland is practically non-existent... but despite such a varied history... God is still at work. Amazingly, it is through these former and current territories that God is now bringing migrants, many of which are Christian, back into Spain. They are doing more than just reaching their immigrant neighbors; they are bringing the Spanish people both light and life.

Migration

The migration picture has changed dramatically for Spain in the last century. In 1900, the country’s population was roughly 19 million people. During that period, the flow of people was outward. Between 1846 and 1932, some 5 million Spaniards left for the Americas.⁴ That was nearly 25% of her population! Then, between 1936 and 1939, Spain was engaged in a tragic civil war, killing hundreds of thousands of her people… and displacing millions. In the end, the Nationalists… and General Francisco Franco would prevail. When WWII arrived, Spain sought to remain neutral. And while Franco did not join the Axis during the Second World War, Franco did lend verbal, if not material, support to Germany. The consequence was that Spain did not receive financial aid (Marshall Plan) from the United States after the war. She was also excluded from participation with several international organizations that were key to European reconstruction. In the end, Spain missed much of the post-WWII economic boom experienced by much of Europe.

Franco would rule as a dictator until he died in 1975, leaving two generations of oppression in his wake. During these years, more people were leaving Spain than arriving. Many were going to France, Germany, and Switzerland for work. Remember... these were the boom years for the rest of Europe. Conversely, one must recognize that during these years, Spain was not considered an economic destination for migrants. There were reasons for sub-Saharans to flow into the reconstruction efforts of the rest of Europe. But I have spoken with Spanish nationals who were adults before they ever saw their first black migrant.

When the European economy collapsed in 1973, Spain had little reserves to stay afloat. Even during the post-Franco years of democracy, the swinging economy of Spain continued to push her people beyond her borders. Unemployment had topped 25% as late as 2012, with youth unemployment reaching 50%, forcing many to emigrate in an effort to find work. The only jobs left were those that were difficult to fill, even by unemployed Spaniards.

Complicating the matter, Spain's population is in rapid decline due to its low birth rate. Couples are waiting longer to get married, and they have fewer children. In 2022, Spain had a birthrate of 1.3 children per woman, ranking it in the bottom ten countries in the world.⁵ Currently, it takes almost every natural-born Spanish citizen to complete university and then fill the jobs essential to maintain Spanish culture. Once again, this leaves much of the labor market open, becoming fertile ground for immigrant labor.

It is in this context that modern Spain resides. Fortunately, her economy has improved dramatically over the last ten years, becoming the 14th largest in the world.⁶ Much of this is due to her expanding agriculture and tourism sectors. As such, she is now drawing workers from around the globe. Most of these workers come from former colonies in Latin America. Upon arrival, these migrants have the advantage of knowing the language and can assimilate quickly into the culture. Spain has an extensive program of naturalization for her former subjects, having granted citizenship to over 1.6 million people since 2010. In some respects, it is challenging to know how many have immigrated from Latin America... simply because they are naturalized almost immediately upon arrival.

But, of the numbers that are counted, the records show over seven million foreign-born people currently live in Spain. This equates to nearly 15% of the total population. But even that number is contested. For example, Spain counts all immigrant children born in her territories as naturalized citizens if they meet certain conditions. Most do! And since many children born in Spain are to immigrant parents, some estimate that the actual number of immigrants in Spain, counting their children, may be as high as 25% of the population.⁷ Recent changes have allowed undocumented workers to receive residency and secure work authorization after only two years in the country.⁸ Essentially, the message has become, "if you can get here, you have a home."

Consequently, Spain has become a prime destination for migrants.

African Migration

It is no wonder the African migration pathways are shifting from Italy to Spain. Some 45% of all such migration flows are now along the Western and Atlantic migration routes.⁹ So... if Spain is so open... one might ask why everyone is not headed that way. The answer has to do with the cultural preferences that are granted to specific groups. As we just noted, immigrants from Latin America enjoy several benefits. First, they are from former Spanish colonies. Many of them have Spanish heritage and ancestors who emigrated from Spain. They can speak the language and are mindful of the culture. Often, they even look Spanish. They are considered family by the nationals, and they can easily assimilate… and, therefore, take the best of the jobs.

Africans, however, do not possess such heritage or privilege. They do not share a language, do not share a national religion, and they certainly do not look Spanish. Consequently, they do not assimilate well. Remember that Latin immigrants arrive in Spain with the full intention of staying in Spain. Most Moroccans, however, are in Spain only to make money. Their goal is to earn an income and go back home. As such, they are treated for what they are, seasonal workers.

Sub-Saharan African arrivals tend to see Spain as a landing zone for Europe and have their eyes set on France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Germany. If they could, they would land on Spanish beaches, pass through the country, and be processed in their desired country of destination. However, as a part of the European Union, it is in Spain's interest (politically) to maintain an immigration policy that protects her neighbors to the North. As such, Africans often catch the brunt of European and, consequently, Spanish resistance to their arrival.

It will take some time to unpack the above, which is our goal in the following posts. But for now, perhaps the best way to imagine the situation is to present it this way… if you can get to Spain by plane, it means you have a visa and will generally be welcomed. If you must come by boat or over a fence… then you are probably illegal… and life will likely be difficult. It is with this second group that we will spend much of our time in the following posts.

We begin with the ways that they attempt to enter.

Fence Climbing at the Enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla

There are three primary routes of entry into Spain. The first is by land into the territories of Ceuta or Melilla. When Morocco gained independence in 1956, Spain maintained control of two enclaves on Moroccan soil. Ceuta and Melilla are territories of only 7.1 and 4.75 square miles, respectively. They guard the Strait of Gibraltar from the African side of the Mediterranean. Between the two, they share slightly over ten miles of border with Morocco and serve as the only land bridge directly into European territory. As such, they become prime targets for irregular migrant crossings.

Spain began building fences to control entry in 1993, which have been extensively modified. Today, there is a double row of barricades, six meters high, topped with razor wire. The area is entirely covered by video surveillance, and there is a road between the fences for patrols. Nearly a thousand Spanish border control agents guard the land border, with another 500 in maritime patrols.

A casual observation makes the thought of a forced entry into these enclaves seem ludicrous. But the migrants can do it. The primary manner of breaching the fences is in large numbers. Over the years, various attempts have been made by crowds of between 300 and 8,000 migrants. In June 2022, some 2000 people attempted to scale the fence in Melilla. Only 133 made it across, and an unknown number of migrants were injured and killed.¹⁰ One may well ask if it is so difficult, why try? The answer is a combination of desperation and poverty. Crossing the fence may be a gamble, but some make it… and it does not cost much money.

Sea Crossing from Morocco to Spain

A second entry route is the sea crossing from Morocco to Spain. At its closest point, Africa is only 7.7 nautical miles or 14.3 kilometers from Europe. On a clear day, you can actually see the houses in Tarifa from Morocco. For most Africans, this is a distance that one could almost swim. And yet, these waters are incredibly treacherous.

Tidal currents are strong in the Strait, as all the tidal flows into the Mediterranean must pass through this narrow slot. Charting a safe passage can be very difficult, even for the most seasoned navigators. Eight miles can quickly become twenty if one's timing is off. Mechanical failure can easily cause boats to drift into the Atlantic and become lost. Additionally, over 100,000 commercial vessels pass through the Strait each year, making collisions with smaller boats nearly impossible to avoid or often even detect. One migrant told me that for every five boats that make an attempt, one or two would be successful, one or two would return to Morocco, and the rest will be lost.

Thus, the only way to cross successfully is with the assistance of a smuggler. A seat in a rubber raft can go for as little as $800. A sturdier boat with a captain can cost as much as $3,000. It takes that kind of money to supply the boat and to cover all the associated costs of clandestine movements. Because the corridor is very narrow, it is not difficult for both Spanish and Moroccan coast guards to intercept migrant boats. They can be convinced to look the other way, but such comes at a cost. Nothing, however, is certain. I have been told that the average number of attempts to reach Spain... for the more expensive boats... is three. Needless to say, this can be a costly way to get to Europe.

Canary Islands

There is yet another entry point into Spain. It is through the Canary Islands, roughly 67 miles from the western Moroccan coastline. These islands become plausible destinations because the departure beaches are isolated and challenging for the Moroccan authorities to patrol. Poverty among local fishermen makes the journey attractive and very profitable, using their own boats and their navigational skills to ferry migrants across. Even more incredibly, Senegalese fishermen also seek to carry migrants to the Canary Islands. The difference is that their journey is over 1,000 miles! It is no wonder that this stretch of water is considered one of the most dangerous routes in the world, where at least one out of three boats are lost.

For obvious reasons, the route to the Canary Islands is often called the Atlantic Route. It is similar to the Western Route in that many of those who take these boats depart from Morocco, and all are seeking to arrive in Spain. However, this route is also uniquely different, particularly for the demographic who chose this pathway. As such, we will pay special attention to it in future posts. I am giving you a sense of this pathway now because it will intersect with our conversation about the Western Route. But… of all the routes we will study in this entire series… the Atlantic route is the most harrowing, most dangerous, and often garners the least attention.

Conclusion

If you have stayed with us to this point, you will have made your way through a historical introduction to West Africa, Morocco, and Spain. These introductions are essential to set the context for the stories to come. In the weeks ahead, we will hear directly from the migrants as they give their testimonies, share their losses, and occasionally find success.

I pray that God will open your eyes and draw your heart to these migrants. Their pathways may not ever cross yours. But if you look outside the front door of your house or church, there is a good chance that you are in sight of someone who at least shares their dreams and heartaches. You are one step closer to loving them as your neighbor if you can see them. If you get that far, I am confident that our Lord will use you to great effect.

***The following two videos will offer a greater context for the Western Route

¹ CIS, Barómetro De Septiembre 2021 (Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas, 2021).

² European Commission, Standard Eurobarometer 83 Spring 2015: European Citizenship (European Commission, 2015). In other words, Christianity has become merely a veneer over the surface of atheism.

³ Israel Olofinjana, "A Dummies Guide to Reverse Mission", Evangelical Alliance https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/a-dummies-guide-to-reverse-mission (accessed December 7, 2022).

⁴ Delano Smith and others, "Spain", Encyclopedia Britannica https://www.britannica.com/place/Spain/Migration (accessed December 7, 2022). See the section on migration.

⁵ World Population Review, "Total Fertility Rate 2022", World Population Review https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/total-fertility-rate (accessed December 7, 2022).

⁶ World Data, "Indicators of Economy in Spain", World Data https://www.worlddata.info/europe/spain/economy.php (accessed December 7, 2022).

⁷ Immigration Lawyers Spain, "Is a Child Born in Spain a Spanish Citizen If Parents Are Foreigners?" https://www.immigrationspain.es/en/child-born-in-spain-citizenship/ (accessed December 7, 2022).

⁸ Carbray, "2022 Guide: New Spanish Reform to the Immigration Regulation" https://carbray.es/new-spanish-reform-immigration-regulation/ (accessed December 7, 2022).

⁹ Yousra Abourabi, "Governing African Migration in Morocco: The Challenge of Positive Desecuritisation," International Development Policy - Revue internationale de politique de développement [Online] 2022 (2022).

¹⁰ CNDH, Unprecedented Confrontations at the Melilla Crossing: Preliminary Report of the Fact-Finding Commission (Rabat: Conseil National des Droits de l’Homme, 2022).