The Kingdom of Spain’s Key Ministries of on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Other Types of Discrimination: Activities and Structures
Authors:   Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod (Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation), Ashmarina Alexandra A. , Tsymbalova Anna E. ,   Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod (Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation)
Published: March 2021

The article focuses on the study the structural and functional characteristics of three departments: the Ministry of Labor, Migration and Social Security; the Ministry of Internal Affairs; and the Ministry of the Presidency for Relations with Courts and Equality Issues, because these ministries directly control and regulate activities in the field of combating discrimination and intolerance. The aim of the article is to study the structure and various aspects of cooperation between these ministries, with particular attention to the implementation of special programs to combat various types of discrimination. The article was prepared using original sources, such as official electronic resources of the key ministries and institutions, regulatory documents, draft programs on combating discrimination and intolerance, agreements between Spain and international organizations. The plans and reports of the police, which reflect the main measures taken to combat racism and xenophobia, were analyzed. The study is based on an institutional approach, which allows carrying out a comprehensive analysis of the activities of Spanish public institutions and organizations in the field of combating discrimination and intolerance at the state, autonomous and city levels. The study employed the general scientific methods of analysis to highlight the key areas of activity of the ministries and to study them comprehensively, comparison to identify the general and specific functions of each of the organs, and generalization to identify the most common directions of anti-discrimination policy in Spain. In the course of the study, the authors develop the thesis that discrimination is a multidimensional phenomenon, the consequences of which affect not only individuals or groups, suffering from discrimination, but also, indirectly, society and the sociopolitical climate in general. Anti-discrimination measures are obligatory for the implementation of a comprehensive public policy, but, despite the presence of common functionality, the key ministries involved in this area have their own specifics. As a result of the study, the authors come to the conclusion that Spain has an extensive network of institutions and organizations dealing with the prevention and fight against various types of intolerance and discrimination. This network operates based not only on the local legislative basis, but also on international treaties and agreements with international organizations. The well-developed institutional structure and the introduction of new specialized organizations increase the effectiveness of government’s measures. The large number of projects to combat racism and xenophobia, which annually receive funding from the state and the EU, indicate that this area is receiving very close attention.