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