There are matters we put off dealing with because they are complicated to resolve or because other priorities take precedence. Pushed to the bottom of the pile of documents, however, they periodically – and with no small amount of annoyance – resurface, returning to the centre of our attention. This is more because certain events bring them back into the spotlight than as a result of a considered choice. Such is the case with the phenomenon of migration in our country. It is a thorny and complicated issue, which we tend to tackle when it becomes an emergency rather than in a planned manner: the landings along our coasts, the racist chants in football stadiums, the attacks on Minister Cécile Kyenge. We struggle to take a pragmatic view of the migration phenomenon, recognising both its positive and problematic aspects: as a result, public and political discourse in Italy is heavily characterised by ideology. Yet this is no longer a new issue. Substantial and steady migration flows began in the 1980s, more than 30 years ago. This was driven not only by the urge of people from impoverished parts of the world to emigrate, but also by Italy’s economic growth during those years and, in particular, by the downward spiral triggered by our declining population. For some years now, as is well known, we have seen no economic growth, yet the population decline has not stopped. Consequently, the number of migrants is still on the rise. In 2008, legally resident foreign nationals accounted for 4.5 per cent of the Italian population; by 2013, their number had exceeded the 4 million mark (7.4 per cent). Looking to the near future (2020, just six years from now), Istat estimates that this figure will reach 7 million (11.4 per cent). They come from around 167 countries. Our community is already a kaleidoscope of nationalities, but it seems we do not want to see it and, above all, admit it. We are an unwitting melting pot. It is clear that we cannot continue to turn a blind eye, thinking we can close our borders or relying solely on the deportation of undocumented migrants as the solution to our problems. However, there are two distinct and far-apart levels to this issue. On the one hand, the forms of integration being trialled at a local level – albeit arduous and complicated – have nonetheless led to significant progress in these areas: within schools, in sport, in parishes, through mixed marriages, and in the relationships between elderly people and their carers. These forms of micro-integration foster opportunities for mutual understanding and help to promote harmonious coexistence. On the other hand, in public discourse – and particularly in political discourse – we are witnessing a regression in language, as in the case of some of the new League representatives or the, to say the least, ‘colourful’ expressions highlighted by the media. Consequently, Italy appears to be tinged with attitudes hostile to migrants, if not outright racism or xenophobia.
