One interesting aspect is that, in the public perception of the issue of public order and security, there appears to be an ever-diminishing clear distinction between Italians and foreigners. As many as four out of five respondents (82.4 per cent) believe that crime can be committed equally by one group as by the other. This is a view that cuts across the population almost indiscriminately; it is a widespread sentiment, although younger people (under 34), students and those in technical or managerial roles are even more likely than the average to hold this view. However, it is when compared with a similar survey carried out in 2007 (Demos&Pi) that certain results take on even greater significance. There has been a significant increase in the positive perception of the role of migrants in our communities, both in terms of cultural expression and economic contribution. In particular, almost three out of four respondents (72.7 per cent) express a positive view of the cultural openness generated by the presence of migrants in our communities.
The demographic that supports this option more than any other comprises women, managers and technical staff, those with higher education qualifications, and those on the fringes of the labour market (housewives, students and pensioners). Six years ago, this view was shared by 46.4 per cent of the population. It therefore appears that the positive perception of these groups has increased. The same trend is evident when it comes to the more strictly economic contribution. Here too, almost three-quarters of those surveyed (72.5 per cent) regard migrants as an asset to our economy, compared with 41.6 per cent in 2007. In this instance, this view is most strongly held by men, younger people (under 24) and older people (over 55), those living in the North-East, managers/professionals and pensioners, and those with a university degree. Thus, overall, over the course of just over five years, attitudes and perceptions towards migrants have shifted towards a decidedly positive stance.
At the same time, however, a section of the Italian population views foreigners living in our communities as a threat. This is a minority, but not a marginal one. Around one-fifth (20%) of those surveyed see them more as a danger than as an asset. 21.2 per cent regard them as a threat to employment and, in this case, it is mainly women, those aged 35–44, residents of Central Italy, those with a school-leaving certificate and, understandably, the unemployed who express this view. In other words, they tend to be the most vulnerable groups in the labour market. A similar proportion also includes those who perceive migrants as a threat to our traditions (20.1 per cent), particularly among the middle age groups (35–64 years old), residents of Central Italy, business owners and those with only a compulsory education certificate. The same applies to those who see them as a threat to people’s safety (19.6 per cent): in this case, they are mainly women, those aged 35–54, residents of the North-East, and those with a secondary school diploma. A comparison with the 2007 survey highlights a decline in negative views, particularly regarding the issue of personal safety (which stood at 43.2 per cent). However, the recorded decline is less than proportional to the increase observed in positive attitudes. In other words, whilst a positive attitude towards migrants is increasing significantly, resistance is tending to decline more slowly. This seems to indicate that, for a not insignificant section of the population, integration processes are struggling to gain a foothold.
