The politicisation of immigration and the impossible reform of access to nationality in Italy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24241/rcai.2025.140.2.57Keywords:
politicisation, immigration, public policy, nationality, Italy, far rightAbstract
Revista CIDOB d'Afers Internacionals, nº. 140
Quadrimestral (May-September 2025)
ISSN:1133-6595 | E-ISSN:2013-035X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24241/rcai.2025.140.2.57
There have been numerous attempts to liberalise access to nationality in Italy over the last 30 years in order to facilitate acquisition by foreign residents in the country. But all such attempts have failed. What lies behind this prolonged and constant resistance to changing the regulations on Italian nationality? This paper answers the question through the analytical lens of the “politicisation of immigration”. Based on a qualitative analysis of the evolution of the Italian nationality system over the course of its recent history (1992–2024), it argues that the resistance can be attributed to three politicisation dynamics: a) the polarisation between different framings within the government coalitions; b) the increased salience of the migration issue in connection with crises sparked by migrant arrivals; and c) the arrival in power of the far right.
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