Italian Migrations Internal, International Emigration and Immigration

Italian migrations

Short history of international and internal emigration

Recent developments and immigration

Abstract: An essay on the Italian experience regarding migrations.

The case of Italy is quite topical discussing about migratory processes. After experiencing decades of emigration, both international and internal, newer immigration trends are affecting the country. Starting from an historical research, this paper addresses socio-economic and political features of the Italian migratory experience. Hence, outlining peculiar differences and similarities between Italian immigration and emigration, this work intends to establish a pattern for a comparative study. Final considerations about the role of Italy in a multicultural society will take into account the more recent theoretical debates among scholars. The shift from being an emigrant sending to an immigrant receiving society poses several challenges for the present and the future. Nevertheless, an analysis of past experiences regarding the emigration phenomenon is crucial trying to shape effective strategies towards those challenges.

October 2011

Italian Migrations 1

Table of contents

• Abstract ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2
• Italian Migrations
• Short history of international and internal emigration
• Recent developments and immigration
• 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 3
• 2. International Emigration .................................................................................................................. 4
• 3. Internal emigration ............................................................................................................................... 5
• 4. Recent developments and changes ....................................................................................... 5
• 5. Immigration ................................................................................................................................................. 6
• 6. Comparative aspects ........................................................................................................................... 7
• Employment ............................................................................................................................................................ 8
• Racism & exploitation .......................................................................................................................................... 8
• List of References ......................................................................................................................................... 10

Italian Migrations 2

Abstract

An essay on the Italian experience regarding migrations.

The case of Italy is quite topical discussing about migratory processes. After experiencing decades of emigration, both international and internal, newer immigration trends are affecting the country. Starting from an historical research, this paper addresses socio-economic and political features of the Italian migratory experience. Hence, outlining peculiar differences and similarities between Italian immigration and emigration, this work intends to establish a pattern for a comparative study. Final considerations about the role of Italy in a multicultural society will take into account the more recent theoretical debates among scholars. The shift from being an emigrant sending to an immigrant receiving society poses several challenges for the present and the future. Nevertheless, an analysis of past experiences regarding the emigration phenomenon is crucial trying to shape effective strategies towards those challenges.

Italian Migrations 3

Italian migrations

Short history of international and internal emigration

Recent developments and immigration

1. Introduction

This essay focuses on migration issues relating to the Italian case in history and at the present days. The first part concentrates on shaping the context by illustrating significant facts and information concerning the Italian history of international emigration, internal emigration and immigration. Then, a focus on recent development and changes of these phenomena within the country investigates the shift to current trends. Above all the shift from an emigrant sending to an immigrant receiving society. A short comparative analysis eventually concentrates on topic issues drifted from the Italian migratory experience. This final comparative review refers to observations of Castles and Miller’s ‘The Age of Migrations’, trying to link its contents to more general (not only Italy) and academic studies of the migratory process.

The case of Italy is rich and wide as regards the migration issue. Its experience permits to confront different expressions of the migration phenomenon from an historical point of view, then relating it to socioeconomic but also political analysis.

Italian Migrations 4

According to Pugliese such a comparison has to study the different orders of this phenomenon: emigration, immigration ‘from’ and ‘to’ Italy, but also the internal and international emigrations which interested (and to some extent still interest) the country (Pugliese, 2002, p. 2). Pugliese’s analysis is significantly titled ‘Italy: between international migrations and internal migrations’ (my translation). The au