IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP: PARTICIPATION AND SELF-ORGANISATION OF IMMIGRANTS IN THE VENETO, NORTH ITALY Claudia Mantovan Sociology Department, University of Padua (Italy)

RESEARCH OBJECT Immigrants’ «demands for citizenship»: how immigrants perceive themselves as citizens how immigrants perceive themselves as citizens how they bring their interests to bear in local society how they bring their interests to bear in local society what they ask what they ask how they interact with indigenous interlocutors how they interact with indigenous interlocutors how local policies influence immigrants’ mobilization how local policies influence immigrants’ mobilization

THE OBJECTIVE to acquire new ideas regarding the crisis of the national citizenship configuration, analysing if and how it is reflected in the participation of immigrants in the host society, and analysing the host society’s ability to manage the complexity due to the presence of these “new citizens” to acquire new ideas regarding the crisis of the national citizenship configuration, analysing if and how it is reflected in the participation of immigrants in the host society, and analysing the host society’s ability to manage the complexity due to the presence of these “new citizens” to verify if immigrants are a factor in “citizenship enlargement” through their (individual or collective) mobilization to verify if immigrants are a factor in “citizenship enlargement” through their (individual or collective) mobilization

ANALYSIS MODEL Infra-political sphere, cultural background, transnational dimension IMMIGRANTS’ DEMANDS FOR CITIZENSHIP Variables related to the individual (material, symbolic and others) Global, European, national context Local immigration field

SELF-ORGANIZATION OF IMMIGRANTS, THEIR MOBILIZATION IN THE POLITICAL-ORGANIZATIONAL SPHERE AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH ITALIAN ACTORS IN THE LOCAL IMMIGRATION FIELD (1) THE CURRENT SITUATION: Failure of the organizations established by the host society in the late 80s and early 90s to deal with the phenomenon of immigration Failure of the organizations established by the host society in the late 80s and early 90s to deal with the phenomenon of immigration Fragmentation of immigrants into a thousand different streams based on ethnic, national, and/or religious association Fragmentation of immigrants into a thousand different streams based on ethnic, national, and/or religious association Emerging of visible immigrants Emerging of visible immigrants

SELF-ORGANIZATION OF IMMIGRANTS, THEIR MOBILIZATION IN THE POLITICAL-ORGANIZATIONAL SPHERE AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH ITALIAN ACTORS IN THE LOCAL IMMIGRATION FIELD (2) THE EXPLANATIONS: The interethnic alliances set up by Italians are built to address a need mainly on the part of the society of arrival The interethnic alliances set up by Italians are built to address a need mainly on the part of the society of arrival In the host society immigrants have a marginal position both in material and symbolic terms In the host society immigrants have a marginal position both in material and symbolic terms Immigration in Italy is a recent phenomenon and characterized by a polycentric fragmentation Immigration in Italy is a recent phenomenon and characterized by a polycentric fragmentation The divisions among the Italian actors of the local immigration field further reinforce the fragmentation already present among immigrants The divisions among the Italian actors of the local immigration field further reinforce the fragmentation already present among immigrants

INFRA-POLITICAL DYNAMICS, TRANSNATIONAL LINKS AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND This level of analysis has confirmed its importance but has also demonstrated the importance of other factors, such as: Gender Gender How long the immigrant has spent in the host country How long the immigrant has spent in the host country Age Age Educational level Educational level Previous experience in politics, unions and associations Previous experience in politics, unions and associations The sense of belonging, projects, and in general the options that each chooses to adopt in the society in which he has arrived The sense of belonging, projects, and in general the options that each chooses to adopt in the society in which he has arrived

CITIZENSHIP, BELONGING AND PARTICIPATION “Pragmatic” approach on the part of immigrants with regard to citizenship in the country of arrival “Pragmatic” approach on the part of immigrants with regard to citizenship in the country of arrival Importance of freedom of movement and/or staying as a new criterion for social stratification (Bauman 2001) Importance of freedom of movement and/or staying as a new criterion for social stratification (Bauman 2001) Centrality of the category of exclusion in the contemporary era Centrality of the category of exclusion in the contemporary era Multiple loyalties of immigrants and criticism by them towards the “nationalized democracy” Multiple loyalties of immigrants and criticism by them towards the “nationalized democracy”

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS The context of arrival and the position of immigrants within it has proven to be a determining factor in influencing the activity and participation of immigrants The context of arrival and the position of immigrants within it has proven to be a determining factor in influencing the activity and participation of immigrants The most important elements responsible for the marginalization of immigrants originated at a supranational level and at the national level. The local level (regional and sub-regional) can therefore have only a partial impact The most important elements responsible for the marginalization of immigrants originated at a supranational level and at the national level. The local level (regional and sub-regional) can therefore have only a partial impact Immigrants are revealers of the crisis of national citizenship configurations, but they aren’t agents for “enlarging” citizenship Immigrants are revealers of the crisis of national citizenship configurations, but they aren’t agents for “enlarging” citizenship To promote the participation of immigrants it is necessary to eliminate the material and symbolic obstacles responsible for their being trapped on the margins of the society in which they have arrived. Even the adoption of a dialogue- oriented approach would be a crucial step To promote the participation of immigrants it is necessary to eliminate the material and symbolic obstacles responsible for their being trapped on the margins of the society in which they have arrived. Even the adoption of a dialogue- oriented approach would be a crucial step