Immigration and Castilian and Leonese Associationism in America

Abstract

During the 19th and 20th centuries, the Spaniards give rise to a remarkable associationist phenomenon in America. It is in Argentina and Cuba, (these two countries receive the biggest number of Spanish emigrants), that the associationist phenomenon has a greater relevance. Associations are usually a way of national, regional, provincial or local identification, being, at the same time, a means for relieving the shock this emigrants face on a new social environment. The associationism is also an answer to the need the emigrants feel to secure a long-term series of services and assistance for themselves in countries where the public offer is quite limited. Of course, solidarity and altruism are other factors which must not be left aside. As for the emigrants coming from the provinces which currently make up the region of Castilla León, there exist societies of a regional character and some others which draw together those people from the same village or region, but the province is the essential factor of identity. To the earlier goal of leisure, these associations quickly add up other goals of mutual, social and cultural character which have determined the survival of many of them to these days.