New Generations Gaining a Voice: Italian and German new generations against right-wing populist rhetoric

The chapter focuses on two umbrella organisations representing new Italians and new Germans: Coordinamento Nazionale Nuove Generazioni Italiane (CoNNGI, or National Coordination of New Italian Generations) and Neue Deutsche Organisationen (ndo, or New German Organisations). The new generations are people with a migratory background who refuse to be seen as outsiders in the national community where they consider themselves indigenous. Starting from an analysis of the reasons why these two similar organisations emerged in two European countries in the same period, I argue that their identity-building process is related to the right-wing populist rhetoric against migrants in general, and in particular the non-acknowledgement of ‘second/third generations of migrants’ as part of society. One of the main goals of CoNNGI and ndo actors is therefore demonstrating their belonging to the country where they live. To illustrate the dynamics beyond the organisations’ identity-building process, I draw on Louis Althusser’s interpellation theory, framed within Judith Butler’s subjection theory.