Union Formation Patterns of Moroccan Migrants in Europe: A Comparison between the Netherlands and Spain

Helga A.G. de Valk, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Amparo Gonzalez, Duke University
Clara Cortina, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)

The purpose of this research is to compare union formation patterns of Moroccan immigrants in Europe by applying a cross-national comparative perspective. Our study focuses on similarities and changes in union formation patterns of labour migrants coming from the same country of origin but moving to different countries at different points in time. We choose to compare Moroccan migrants Spain and the Netherlands. These countries are interesting case studies as the Netherlands is a country to which many Moroccan labour migrants moved in the 1960s and early 1970s. Moroccan migration to Spain is clearly more recent and more intense. We are first of all interested to see what characterizes Moroccan migrants in the Netherlands and Spain with regard to their union formation history. Second, we want to shed light on both the timing of union formation and the level of intermarriage of Moroccan migrants and explain differences and similarities.