Transcript Diapositiva 1

Who are immigrants?
Problems of framing, definition,
distinction
Maurizio Ambrosini, University of Milan, editor of the
journal “Mondi migranti”
Definition
• An immigrant is a person who moved to a foreign country,
and who have been there for more than one year (UN)
• Three elements:
 Moving
 Crossing a national border
 For a prolonged period of time (1 year or more)
• Problems:
 Internal migrants
 Seasonal immigrant workers
 Second generations
The double Otherness of migrants
• We do not define a person coming from US,
Switzerland or Japan “immigrant”, even though
he/she is included in the definition quoted
above
• We do not name a businessperson, or a
football champion “immigrant”, even though
he/she comes from a country of the Global
South
• Immigrants are people framed as “poor” and
“strangers”
A dynamic vision
• Italian, Spanish, Greek migrants in
Northern Europe have improved their legal
status and social representation over time
• Citizens of EU new member countries are
doing the same
• The economic development has similar
effects in legal treatment and social
acceptance
Superdiversity?
• The difficulty in the acceptance of people perceived as “the
Others” is linked with the perception of a deep break of
the social order and of the homogeneity of the Nation
• we are obliged to live with people who are different
because of their language, citizenship, religion, cultural
habits…
• Our social landscape is perceived as radically altered
• These differences are combined with a social stigma: these
people are seen as “inferior”
• The term “immigrant” comes to imply a pejorative
meaning
Different types of migrants
• Economic migrants
• Seasonal migrants (now: “circular migrants”, in a “triple
win” scenario)
• Skilled migrants and investors
• Migrants for family reasons (or “secondary migrations”)
• Second generations (are they immigrants?)
• Asylum seekers and refugees
• Irregular migrants, clandestines, victims of traffick
• Return migrants
The historical periods of international
migrations in contemporary history
• 1830-1914: transatlantic migrations from Europe
• 1914-1945: refugees and first regulations
• 1945-1960: new refugees and reconstruction after
the war
• 1960-1974: migrations towards Northern Europe
and economic development
• 1974-now: restriction, selection, free circulation in
the EU, irregular migrations
Four trends in contemporary
migrations (Castles and Miller)
•
•
•
•
Globalization
Acceleration
Diversification
Feminization
Phases or stages of migrations
• 1) First arrivals: young workers, without families,
with the proposal to stay temporarily
• 2) New arrivals, workers even now. People with
less resources, but sponsored by the “hubs”. Time
extends
• 3) Family reunions: spouses and children arrive,
Immigrants settle
• 4) Formation of ethnic minorities. Political and
cultural demands. Creation of ethnic institutions