Legami e origini. La dimensione identitaria dei giovani italiani e stranieri

Foreign youngsters experiencing migration are often described as being in a precarious balance, insofar as they develop a sense of belonging to their host societies and, at the same, maintain a strong tie with their countries of origin. This paper aims to investigate foreign youths’ integration within the host society, with particular emphasis on their sense of belonging to a specific place and the construction of their identity. A comparison with Italian youths’ identity has been investigated as well, since even today many of them experience domestic migration, which may influence their sense of belonging. In order to explore this topic, data collected in a survey conducted in the province of Bologna in the school year 2006/07 are examined. More than 3,000 Italian and foreign teenagers enrolled in upper secondary schools were interviewed via a structured questionnaire. Comparisons between foreigners and Italians reveal interesting differences in terms of national identities: the former are more likely to maintain a tie with their country of origin rather than identify with the host society. Nonetheless, these differences are less marked among foreigners born in Italy and Italians’ having experienced migration.