Italiani nuovi o nuova Italia? Citizenship and attitudes towards the second generation in contemporary Italy

Abstract

Abstract Italy is host to a growing population of second-generation immigrants, children of immigrants born and raised in Italy. The current citizenship regime privileges Italian descent and makes naturalization very difficult, even for those born on Italian soil. This relegates a large population of second-generation immigrants to a marginal position, excluded from political, educational and labor integration upon their eighteenth birthday because of their citizenship status. Using data from group interviews, this paper investigates Italians' willingness to grant citizenship to second-generation immigrants. Three major themes emerged: how Italians define citizenship, the idea of conditional citizenship, and the significance of race in imagining the future of Italian society. This paper seeks to understand the dynamics underlying the debate about citizenship and gauge support for reforms to the current citizenship regime.