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The Call for Papers for the panel session Digital labour and informal economy: transformation and challenges (9th Ethnography and Qualitative Research Conference, ERQ2023) is now open.
Proposal must be submitted by January 16, 2023.
The Italian Society for Economic Sociology organizes its first Conference in Rome at the Sapienza University (Rome - Sapienza University of Rome 26-27-28 January 2017). One of the sessions during the first edition of SISE Conference... more
The Italian Society for Economic Sociology organizes its first Conference in Rome at the Sapienza University (Rome - Sapienza University of Rome 26-27-28 January 2017). One of the sessions during the first edition of SISE Conference focuses on “The informal economy during the economic crisis in the European Mediterranean Countries”. The session aims to explore the nature of informal employment, the reasons for which employees are engaged in informal economic activities and the representations of their work (for more details see the Call for Paper proposals in attachment).
Scholars and young researchers are invited to participate in this session sending a paper abstract of maximum 8000 characters to mito.school@unimi.it by October 3rd, 2016. Proposals should thoroughly specify the topic, the research questions, the methodology and the references. Applicants are requested to illustrate whether the paper proposal: (1) is part of a larger research project; (2) has been conducted by one or more authors; (3) has been carried out in a national or international context. The authors should also specify whether preliminary versions of this work have been already published or presented in other conferences or seminars. Participants will be notified of their acceptance by October 17th, 2016. Final papers are due on December 20th, 2016.
For any queries regarding the Call for Papers, please contact:

Diego Coletto (diego.coletto@unimib.it)
Iraklis Dimitriadis (iraklis.dimitriadis@unimi.it)

Our ambition is also to create an informal network among scholars who study questions concerning informal economic activities in Mediterranean Countries.

All the best
Diego and Iraklis
Research Interests:
Studies on the framing of the refugee crisis have focused on media and political discourses, revealing contrasting views and an increasing politicization of immigration. However, the framing-of-asylum discourse in relation to the... more
Studies on the framing of the refugee crisis have focused on media and political discourses, revealing contrasting views and an increasing politicization of immigration. However, the framing-of-asylum discourse in relation to the reception and settlement of asylum seekers in local communities has so far received less attention, especially when conflictual dynamics emerge. This article investigates the ways in which experts at different levels make sense of how the refugee crisis has unfolded in local communities in Italy. Insofar as asylum governance has become a contentious issue, it looks at conflictual situations. The research challenges the binary between humanitarian and fear frames by suggesting the prevalence of a managerialist frame focusing on a problematic implementation of asylum policies. Taking into consideration the opinions of local experts, it also reveals a shift from a fear frame to an inconvenience frame, which denies xenophobic discourses on invasion or social/public disorder in local communities, but finds other reasons to deny acceptance. The article also adds to the study of the horizontal dynamics between public and private actors, which are central, especially at the local level, and introduces refugees as subjects who actively participate in the "battleground" of asylum governance. Therefore, claims about a negotiated order between different tiers of governance within the multilevel governance approach are challenged.
Considering the scarcity of psychological studies on Middle Eastern Christian immigrant families experiences, this chapter aims to explore the post-migration experience of Coptic Orthodox families immigrated from Egypt to Italy and... more
Considering the scarcity of psychological studies on Middle Eastern Christian immigrant families experiences, this chapter aims to explore the post-migration experience of Coptic Orthodox families immigrated from Egypt to Italy and chooses to adopt a family intergenerational perspective to compare narratives of two different family generations (first-generation parents and their second-generation adolescent children). Based on empirical data from 10 Coptic Orthodox families, for a total of 30 interviewed participants (10 first-generation fathers, 10 first-generation mothers, and 10 second-generation adolescent children), the chapter reveals that religiosity in its intertwined individual and social expressions is a salient part of interviewees’ everyday life and an essential source of resilience. However, identity-specific content reveals differences when comparing parents and children’s narratives. While a “diasporic” religious identity seems to emerge among first-generation parents...
This article comparatively examines forms of (im)mobility among refugees and asylum seekers (RAS) in coping with dispersal process, restrictive migration policies and local socio-economic characteristics in three cities of Northern Italy.... more
This article comparatively examines forms of (im)mobility among refugees and asylum seekers (RAS) in coping with dispersal process, restrictive migration policies and local socio-economic characteristics in three cities of Northern Italy. Drawing on qualitative data, it sheds light on the everyday forms of (im)mobility of RAS to resist structural barriers limiting their opportunities to access jobs and welfare services. The Results show that people's capacity to overcome barriers depends upon individual characteristics and informal networks, and is shaped by particularities of local contexts. While people's regular legal status is considered an important resource in achieving goals, refugees and holders of international protection often have to adopt (im)mobility practices to access resources in contexts that do not facilitate their integration. This article highlights the inefficiency of integration and reception policies and advances the theoretical debate on the link betw...
Drawing upon qualitative data on Albanians residing in Italy and Greece, this article furnishes new insights into the topic of undeclared migrant construction workers’ agency. It analyses different types of undeclared work through Katz’s... more
Drawing upon qualitative data on Albanians residing in Italy and Greece, this article furnishes new insights into the topic of undeclared migrant construction workers’ agency. It analyses different types of undeclared work through Katz’s theoretical framework that suggests a disaggregated conceptualisation of agency. In so doing, it adds to thinking on the factors shaping fluidity between types of agency and challenges dichotomous views on passive or voluntary participation. The article also highlights that mutual interests between workers and employers enable migrant builders to defy and resist state regulations, despite the impacts of undeclared work on workers and the fact that power dynamics are unequal. Thus, the main contribution the article makes is to suggest a more nuanced understanding of labour agency that may go beyond the conflict between employers and workers. Overall, the article highlights the relevance of this study for different economic sectors, geographical areas...
Comparative Report: Individual factors for migration and migration channels A major ingredient of the transformative processes in present-day Europe is the mobility of human capital. One of the major challenges continuously facing the EU... more
Comparative Report: Individual factors for migration and migration channels A major ingredient of the transformative processes in present-day Europe is the mobility of human capital. One of the major challenges continuously facing the EU is how best to manage labour migration in the context of population ageing and global competition for skills (OECD/EU, 2016). In order for the process to serve as an invigorating factor both for the economies in the region and for the quality of work and life of European citizens and residents we need to have the evidence of migrants’ expectations, experiences and aspirations for the future. In this report we present results from the comparative analysis conducted within the framework of WP4 ‘The lived experiences of migration’ of the GEMM Project (D4.3).
This article elaborates on the activities developed by various actors from the civil society in favour of non-deported refused asylum seekers (NDRAS) through the lens of 'de-bordering solidarity'. Drawing on qualitative data collected in... more
This article elaborates on the activities developed by various actors from the civil society in favour of non-deported refused asylum seekers (NDRAS) through the lens of 'de-bordering solidarity'. Drawing on qualitative data collected in two small Italian cities ruled by anti-immigrant coalitions, this study explores the rationales and outcomes of migrant supporters' actions in providing help to NDRAS, thus deepening the action of pro-immigrant civil society in small urban centres. The findings show that, while civil society's engagement in the provision of basic needs to vulnerable people is unconditional, legal advice and practical help for access to regular status can be more selective and reflect lack of human and financial resources available, the low probability of a part of NDRAS to achieve legal status, low demand in local labour markets, and social workers' and volunteers' subjectivities. Despite recognizing such limits in solidarity activities, this article shows that civil society in practice challenges deportation policies through practical and daily solidarity that assumes political and cultural meanings. Based on these findings, this article suggests durable solutions for addressing the issues connected with the presence of NDRAS.
This dissertation presents a comparative study of Albanian migrant construction workers in Italy and Greece. Using qualitative research methods, it explores the coping practices of first-generation Albanian migrants employed in the... more
This dissertation presents a comparative study of Albanian migrant construction workers in Italy and Greece. Using qualitative research methods, it explores the coping practices of first-generation Albanian migrants employed in the residential construction in Milan and Athens during the recent financial crisis. More specifically, this study focuses on the responses adopted by Albanian builders and their households to cope with high rates of unemployment in construction in both contexts. The research started on March 2015 and involved 16 months of fieldwork in Milan, Athens and Albania, where I mainly interviewed three categories of informants: workers, trade unionists and labour inspectors. The two case studies have mainly concentrated on three different aspects. First, the dissertation analysed the factors that ensure continuity in building trades, that is how Albanian migrants continue to get a job in residential construction. Second, it put emphasis on migrants' engagement in...
The subject of naturalisation among intra-EU migrants has only recently drawn the attention of social science scholars. Empirical evidence from quantitative studies shows an increase in citizenship applications among this new wave of... more
The subject of naturalisation among intra-EU migrants has only recently drawn the attention of social science scholars. Empirical evidence from quantitative studies shows an increase in citizenship applications among this new wave of mobile people, indicating a strategic use of naturalisation. However, there is not a great deal of micro-level research, especially as to the subjective meanings attached to citizenship take-up in a new EU member state. Drawing on 68 in-depth interviews conducted with Italians and Spaniards living in London and Berlin, we argue that an individual’s understanding of naturalisation within the EU context is based on two aspects: on one hand, a strictly pragmatic evaluation of the pros and cons of the new status; on the other, a new sense of belonging as well as new cultural and territorial identifications that intra-EU migrants are not often willing to experience. Therefore, this article suggests that EU migrants that strongly identify with their country o...
This working paper explores new Italian migrants' arrival and settlement in the UK and Germany; work experiences; and, issues of identity and citizenship. It draws on 41 in-depth interviews with migrants in London and Berlin; 10... more
This working paper explores new Italian migrants' arrival and settlement in the UK and Germany; work experiences; and, issues of identity and citizenship. It draws on 41 in-depth interviews with migrants in London and Berlin; 10 'prospective' migrants; and, 10 labour agency experts. www.gemm.eu
Comparative Report: Individual factors for migration and migration channels A major ingredient of the transformative processes in present-day Europe is the mobility of human capital. One of the major challenges continuously facing the EU... more
Comparative Report: Individual factors for migration and migration channels A major ingredient of the transformative processes in present-day Europe is the mobility of human capital. One of the major challenges continuously facing the EU is how best to manage labour migration in the context of population ageing and global competition for skills (OECD/EU, 2016). In order for the process to serve as an invigorating factor both for the economies in the region and for the quality of work and life of European citizens and residents we need to have the evidence of migrants’ expectations, experiences and aspirations for the future. In this report we present results from the comparative analysis conducted within the framework of WP4 ‘The lived experiences of migration’ of the GEMM Project (D4.3).
This working paper explores the motivations of new Italian migrants to move to the UK and Germany; their preparation before arrival; and, the ways they get a job in the new context. It draws on in-depth interviews with 41 Italian migrants... more
This working paper explores the motivations of new Italian migrants to move to the UK and Germany; their preparation before arrival; and, the ways they get a job in the new context. It draws on in-depth interviews with 41 Italian migrants in London and Berlin; 10 'prospective' migrants; and, 10 labour agency experts. www.gemm.eu
Considering onward migration aspirations of Albanian migrants in Italy and Greece, this article investigates the reproduction of transnational practices in relation to preferred destinations before new settlements take place. Drawing on... more
Considering onward migration aspirations of Albanian migrants in Italy and Greece, this article investigates the reproduction of transnational practices in relation to preferred destinations before new settlements take place. Drawing on qualitative data, it introduces the concept of explorative transnational practices and sheds light on the interplay between aspirations and transnationalism, showing how the desire to leave the first country may be shaped by transnational ties, and how this may trigger occasional transnational physical activity to explore new destinations. On one hand, this version of transnational mobility may engender remigration, but, on the other, this may be transformed into income‐oriented work trips due to structural constraints (legal status, immigrant networks) and a lack of linguistic and economic capital, as well as other factors such as integration processes, intergenerational relationships and experiences in new destinations. This questions the very presumptions of the transnationalist approach that underscore agentic dimensions of transnational migrants.
In recent decades, scholars have been increasingly interested in analysing immigrants’ religiosity in Europe. In this article, we provide evidence about how the patterns of religious transmission are shaped by religious characteristics of... more
In recent decades, scholars have been increasingly interested in analysing immigrants’ religiosity in Europe. In this article, we provide evidence about how the patterns of religious transmission are shaped by religious characteristics of both the origin and receiving contexts. We do so by focusing on Italy, which is both an almost homogeneously Catholic country and a fairly recent immigration destination, and by analysing three different dimensions of religiosity: service attendance, prayer and importance of religion. By relying on the “Social conditions and integration of foreign citizens” survey (ISTAT, 2011–2012), we fill an important theoretical and geographical gap by analysing differences in religiosity between parents and children. We claim that immigrant groups who share many characteristics with the natives tend to assimilate by adopting the same patterns of transmission (for example, Romanians in Italy). In contrast, immigrants who come from very different religious conte...
This paper explores Italian and Spanish migrants' experiences and imaginaries of home country labour markets as part of their motivations to migrate during the economic crisis. It argues that precarious employment conditions and... more
This paper explores Italian and Spanish migrants' experiences and imaginaries of home country labour markets as part of their motivations to migrate during the economic crisis. It argues that precarious employment conditions and images of dysfunctional labour markets drive them to leave Italy and Spain. Besides personal experiences also images transmitted through media and informal social networks play a role. In addition, it sheds light on the perceptions that young Italians and Spaniards have of the Berlin and London labour markets. The findings suggest that positive images of the Berlin and London economies, together with a lack of hope for sustainable economic recovery in the country of origin impact migration decisions, and may also encourage migrants who face challenges in the labour market of destination countries to accept poor employment conditions, rather than leave the new society. The analysis is based on 69 in-depth interviews with young Italians and Spaniards, most of whom emigrated after 2008.
Whilst most of the research on intra-EU mobility has mainly focused on the reasons behind young Southern Europeans leaving their home countries, and secondly on their experiences within the new context, little is known about their sense... more
Whilst most of the research on intra-EU mobility has mainly focused on the reasons behind young Southern Europeans leaving their home countries, and secondly on their experiences within the new context, little is known about their sense of belonging and identities. This article aims to fill this gap by exploring Italian and Spanish migrants’ social identity repositioning and the cultural change characterising their existential trajectories. Drawing on 69 semi-structured interviews with Italians and Spaniards living in London and Berlin, this article shows that the sense of belonging to one or more political communities and boundary work are related to individual experiences and can change due to structural eventualities such as the Brexit referendum. While identification with the host society is rare, attachment to the home country is quite common as a result of people’s everyday experiences. Cultural changes and European/cosmopolitan identification are linked to exposure to new env...
ABSTRACT In contrast to the main body of literature focusing on irregular migrants' counterstrategies, this article explores regular migrant workers' practices to renew their residence permit in an attempt to circumvent structural... more
ABSTRACT In contrast to the main body of literature focusing on irregular migrants' counterstrategies, this article explores regular migrant workers' practices to renew their residence permit in an attempt to circumvent structural hurdles due to the restrictive Italian legislative framework. Studying migrants' agency in a socioeconomic context, characterized by high unemployment rates and extensive informal working patterns, I thus distinguish three main counterstrategies: (1) the use of their informal networks to falsify their working relations; (2) the possibility of starting up an individual firm; and (3) taking advantage of structural “loopholes.”
The multi-level governance (MLG) approach is widely used to understand the complex processes of immigration policymaking. In this literature review, we consider both (i) the vertical dimension of MLG: the local, regional, national,... more
The multi-level governance (MLG) approach is widely used to understand the complex processes of immigration policymaking. In this literature review, we consider both (i) the vertical dimension of MLG: the local, regional, national, European, or even global level; and (ii) the horizontal dimension of MLG: the relations between public and non-public actors. While focusing on the local level, this review identifies a trend regarding, on the one hand, local processes of bordering, and local policies of inclusion on the other. Furthermore, the article reviews how civil society has responded to the arrival of refugees. It identifies how this literature pays insufficient attention to dimensions of conflict and, more specifically, to how local borders can be challenged. Moreover, it shows a lack of attention to anti-migrant responses, and to the interaction between migrants and civil society regarding immigration governance. Concluding, the paper argues for the adoption of a "battleground" perspective as a more dynamic basis for the MLG approach.
Whilst most of the research on intra-EU mobility has mainly focused on the reasons behind young Southern Europeans leaving their home countries, and secondly on their experiences within the new context, little is known about their sense... more
Whilst most of the research on intra-EU mobility has mainly focused on the reasons behind young Southern Europeans leaving their home countries, and secondly on their experiences within the new context, little is known about their sense of belonging and identities. This article aims to fill this gap by exploring Italian and Spanish migrants’ social identity repositioning and the cultural change characterising their existential trajectories. Drawing on 69 semi-structured interviews with Italians and Spaniards living in London and Berlin, this article shows that the sense of belonging to one or more political communities and boundary work are related to individual experiences and can change due to structural eventualities such as the Brexit referendum. While identification with the host society is rare, attachment to the home country is quite common as a result of people’s everyday experiences. Cultural changes and European/cosmopolitan identification are linked to exposure to new env...
The multi-level governance (MLG) approach is widely used to understand the complex processes of immigration policymaking. In this literature review, we consider both (i) the vertical dimension of MLG: the local, regional, national,... more
The multi-level governance (MLG) approach is widely used to understand the complex processes of immigration policymaking. In this literature review, we consider both (i) the vertical dimension of MLG: the local, regional, national, European, or even global level; and (ii) the horizontal dimension of MLG: the relations between public and non-public actors. While focusing on the local level, this review identifies a trend regarding, on the one hand, local processes of bordering, and local policies of inclusion on the other. Furthermore, the article reviews how civil society has responded to the arrival of refugees. It identifies how this literature pays insufficient attention to dimensions of conflict and, more specifically, to how local borders can be challenged. Moreover, it shows a lack of attention to anti-migrant responses, and to the interaction between migrants and civil society regarding immigration governance. Concluding, the paper argues for the adoption of a "battleground" perspective as a more dynamic basis for the MLG approach.
The subject of naturalisation among intra-EU migrants has only recently drawn the attention of social science scholars. Empirical evidence from quantitative studies shows an increase in citizenship applications among this new wave of... more
The subject of naturalisation among intra-EU migrants has only recently drawn the attention of social science scholars. Empirical evidence from quantitative studies shows an increase in citizenship applications among this new wave of mobile people, indicating a strategic use of naturalisation. However, there is not a great deal of micro-level research, especially as to the subjective meanings attached to citizenship take-up in a new EU member state. Drawing on 68 in-depth interviews conducted with Italians and Spaniards living in London and Berlin, we argue that an individual's understanding of naturalisation within the EU context is based on two aspects: on one hand, a strictly pragmatic evaluation of the pros and cons of the new status; on the other, a new sense of belonging as well as new cultural and territorial identifications that intra-EU migrants are not often willing to experience. Therefore, this article suggests that EU migrants that strongly identify with their country of origin and the EU see national and EU identities as conflicting with naturalisation, thus setting aside instrumental considerations. This constitutes a critique to theoretical approaches claiming the diminishing importance of a nation's cultural self-understanding. Our paper also sheds light on the possible effect of the UK's departure from the EU on young Southern European migrants choosing to apply for British citizenship, highlighting that it is mostly the implementation of the formal exit process and the actual abrogation of EU citizenship rights that reconfigure patterns in naturalisation, rather than the uncertainty and fears about the future.
In recent decades, scholars have been increasingly interested in analysing immigrants' religiosity in Europe. In this article, we provide evidence about how the patterns of religious transmission are shaped by religious characteristics of... more
In recent decades, scholars have been increasingly interested in analysing immigrants' religiosity in Europe. In this article, we provide evidence about how the patterns of religious transmission are shaped by religious characteristics of both the origin and receiving contexts. We do so by focusing on Italy, which is both an almost homogeneously Catholic country and a fairly recent immigration destination, and by analysing three different dimensions of religiosity: service attendance, prayer and importance of religion. By relying on the "Social conditions and integration of foreign citizens" survey (ISTAT, 2011-2012), we fill an important theoretical and geographical gap by analysing differences in religiosity between parents and children. We claim that immigrant groups who share many characteristics with the natives tend to assimilate by adopting the same patterns of transmission (for example, Romanians in Italy). In contrast, immigrants who come from very different religious contexts, such as the Muslim Moroccan group, strongly react to this diversity by emphasising the transmission of their own religiosity. If, instead, immigrants come from a very secular country, such as Albania, they also tend to replicate this feature in the receiving countries, thus progressively weakening their religiosity and also their denominational differences. Overall, it is the interplay between origin and destination context which matters the most in shaping the patterns of religious transmission.
Considering onward migration aspirations of Albanian migrants in Italy and Greece, this article investigates the reproduction of transnational practices in relation to preferred destinations before new settlements take place. Drawing on... more
Considering onward migration aspirations of Albanian migrants in Italy and Greece, this article investigates the reproduction of transnational practices in relation to preferred destinations before new settlements take place. Drawing on qualitative data, it introduces the concept of explorative transnational practices and sheds light on the interplay between aspirations and transnationalism, showing how the desire to leave the first country may be shaped by transnational ties, and how this may trigger occasional transnational physical activity to explore new destinations. On one hand, this version of transnational mobility may engender remigration, but, on the other, this may be transformed into income‐oriented work trips due to structural constraints (legal status, immigrant networks) and a lack of linguistic and economic capital, as well as other factors such as integration processes, intergenerational relationships and experiences in new destinations. This questions the very presumptions of the transnationalist approach that underscore agentic dimensions of transnational migrants.
This paper explores Italian and Spanish migrants' experiences and imaginaries of home country labour markets as part of their motivations to migrate during the economic crisis. It argues that precarious employment conditions and images of... more
This paper explores Italian and Spanish migrants' experiences and imaginaries of home country labour markets as part of their motivations to migrate during the economic crisis. It argues that precarious employment conditions and images of dysfunctional labour markets drive them to leave Italy and Spain. Besides personal experiences also images transmitted through media and informal social networks play a role. In addition, it sheds light on the perceptions that young Italians and Spaniards have of the Berlin and London labour markets. The findings suggest that positive images of the Berlin and London economies, together with a lack of hope for sustainable economic recovery in the country of origin impact migration decisions, and may also encourage migrants who face challenges in the labour market of destination countries to accept poor employment conditions, rather than leave the new society. The analysis is based on 69 in-depth interviews with young Italians and Spaniards, most of whom emigrated after 2008.
Whilst most of the research on intra-EU mobility has mainly focused on the reasons behind young Southern Europeans leaving their home countries, and secondly on their experiences within the new context, little is known about their sense... more
Whilst most of the research on intra-EU mobility has mainly focused on the reasons behind young Southern Europeans leaving their home countries, and secondly on their experiences within the new context, little is known about their sense of belonging and identities. This article aims to fill this gap by exploring Italian and Spanish migrants' social identity reposi-tioning and the cultural change characterising their existential trajectories. Drawing on 69 semi-structured interviews with Italians and Spaniards living in London and Berlin, this article shows that the sense of belonging to one or more political communities and boundary work are related to individual experiences and can change due to structural eventualities such as the Brexit referendum. While identification with the host society is rare, attachment to the home country is quite common as a result of people's everyday experiences. Cultural changes and European/cosmopolitan identification are linked to exposure to new environments and interaction with new cultures, mostly concerning those with previous mobility experience , as well as to a sentiment of non-acceptance in the UK. However, such categories are not rigid, but many times self-identification and attachments are rather blurred also due to the uncertainty around the duration of the mobility project. This makes individual factors (gender, age, family status, employment, education) that are often considered as determinants of identification patterns all but relevant.
Once in the destination country, migrants face the challenge of adapting to a new socio-economic, political and cultural context. Interacting with the institutions of the new society, searching for jobs in a tough labour market or trying... more
Once in the destination country, migrants face the challenge of adapting to a new socio-economic, political and cultural context. Interacting with the institutions of the new society, searching for jobs in a tough labour market or trying to develop their occupational career, maintaining old and creating new social ties, reshaping feelings of belonging are all demanding aspects of the migration experience, even in conditions of freedom of mobility in the EU labour market. Mobile individuals apply diverse strategies to achieve their personal goals drawing upon formal and informal channels of support, influenced by the policies of the host countries to manage the mobility of European citizens and achieve competitiveness and growth.

In this report we present results from the comparative analysis of the qualitative interviews with migrants conducted within the framework of WP4 ‘The lived experiences of migration’ of the Growth, Equal Opportunities, Migration and Markets (GEMM) Project.
Research Interests:
Comparative Report: Individual factors for migration and migration channels A major ingredient of the transformative processes in present-day Europe is the mobility of human capital. One of the major challenges continuously facing the EU... more
Comparative Report: Individual factors for migration and migration channels
A major ingredient of the transformative processes in present-day Europe is the mobility of human capital. One of the major challenges continuously facing the EU is how best to manage labour migration in the context of population ageing and global competition for skills (OECD/EU, 2016). In order for the process to serve as an invigorating factor both for the economies in the region and for the quality of work and life of European citizens and residents we need to have the evidence of migrants’ expectations, experiences and aspirations for the future.

In this report we present results from the comparative analysis conducted within the framework of WP4 ‘The lived experiences of migration’ of the GEMM Project (D4.3).
Research Interests:
Comparative Report: Individual factors for migration and migration channels A major ingredient of the transformative processes in present-day Europe is the mobility of human capital. One of the major challenges continuously facing the EU... more
Comparative Report: Individual factors for migration and migration channels
A major ingredient of the transformative processes in present-day Europe is the mobility of human capital. One of the major challenges continuously facing the EU is how best to manage labour migration in the context of population ageing and global competition for skills (OECD/EU, 2016). In order for the process to serve as an invigorating factor both for the economies in the region and for the quality of work and life of European citizens and residents we need to have the evidence of migrants’ expectations, experiences and aspirations for the future.

In this report we present results from the comparative analysis conducted within the framework of WP4 ‘The lived experiences of migration’ of the GEMM Project (D4.3).
Research Interests:
Based on in-depth interviews with Albanian construction workers, employers, and various stakeholders, the article sheds light on migrants' strategies to circumvent structural constraints to renew their stay permits.
Research Interests:
Informal economic practices have traditionally prevailed in the delivery services, domestic work and transportation sectors. Although the rise of digital economy implies the formalisation of riders, domestic workers and taxi drivers who... more
Informal economic practices have traditionally prevailed in the delivery services, domestic work and transportation sectors. Although the rise of digital economy implies the formalisation of riders, domestic workers and taxi drivers who were largely engaged in the informal realm of the economy, recent studies reveal that platform labour is still characterised by non-standard forms of employment. Therefore, this research project aims to explore the impact of digital labour platforms on workers whose employment has been characterised by informality in traditional labour markets. Drawing upon primary data that will be primarily collected through in-depth interviews with platform workers and stakeholders (e.g., unionists, platform providers) and secondary data, it will investigate how digital economy informs the continuum between the formal and informal realm of economy, and how workers represent their participation in platform work. Empirical material will be collected in Milan, as this city is considered a prominent tech hub with a variety of gig and sharing economy platforms. This project aims to contribute to the debate on platform workers' conditions and agency in developed countries, by engaging in dialogue with ongoing and already published studies. A comparative perspective across contexts characterised by different socioeconomic, institutional and normative characteristics is expected to offer interesting insights on the topic of informal economy within platform work.
The University of Milan, through a research unit located at the Department of Social and Political Sciences and leaded by Prof. Maurizio Ambrosini, will take part in an important H2020 research project on European migration policies in... more
The University of Milan, through a research unit located at the Department of Social and Political Sciences and leaded by Prof. Maurizio Ambrosini, will take part in an important H2020 research project on European migration policies in the aftermath of the "refugee crisis". The MAGYC Project-Migration Governance and Asylum Crisis-will explore how European migration policies are influenced by political and economic crises in the frame of crescent international migration flows. At a time when such policies are heavily contested across European member-states, and when the asylum system seems more threatened than ever, this project is critically important to improve our understanding of how migration policies are formulated and shaped by a context of crisis. The project has been selected through a competitive process in the framework of the "Horizon 2020" European research programme, it has been allocated a total budget of around 3.2 million euros, and will last four years. The coordinator of the project is The HUGO Observatory. The overall contribution of the University of Milan will consist of an analysis of the discourses, perceptions and policies regarding international migration from a Mediterranean perspective. The importance to include the Mediterranean, and particularly the Italian perspective, on migration-and more specifically on asylum-governance lies on its peculiar geographical position as the most relevant EU southern border/first "safe country", and the significant increase of asylum seekers' arrivals registered at its shores particularly during the last years. The contribution will focus on 1.-the discursive construction of the crisis rhetoric; 2.-the identification of the different local, national and international stakeholders involved in the governance process of migration and asylum, and their multiple ways of interaction; and 3.-the multi-scalar study of the official and unofficial responses to the so called "refugee crisis", emphasizing the role of the local authorities on facilitating (or hindering) the application of national policies on reception, redistribution and inclusion/exclusion of newcomers.
Research Interests:
Il progetto studia le innovazioni organizzative per il miglioramento dei processi produttivi e della qualità del lavoro nelle aziende manifatturiere venete in via di automatizzazione. PReST si sviluppa nell’ambito di specializzazione... more
Il progetto studia le innovazioni organizzative per il miglioramento dei processi produttivi e della qualità del lavoro nelle aziende manifatturiere venete in via di automatizzazione. PReST si sviluppa nell’ambito di specializzazione intelligente Smart manufacture, nella macro-traiettoria “Spazi di lavoro innovativi e inclusivi” e nella traiettoria “Soluzioni innovative per spazi e organizzazione del lavoro in prospettiva umanocentrica.
Research Interests:
This is the second overview of country-specific literature on the theme of migration in the EU covering the six countries taking part in GEMM Workpackage 4 ‘The lived experiences of migration’: UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria and... more
This is the second overview of country-specific literature on the theme of migration in the EU covering the six countries taking part in GEMM Workpackage 4 ‘The lived experiences of migration’: UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria and Romania. The first literature review focused on the individual factors for migration such as gender, ethnicity and age, as well as the formal and informal channels for mobility from the countries of departure to the countries of destination. The second overview concentrates on the institutional and contextual factors facilitating or preventing mobility in the European labour market. The objective is to examine previous research findings about the structures of opportunities and constraints for the successful labour market integration of migrants, common in the research literature from the different countries, and to outline the discrepancies, uncertainties and gaps among different studies. It will serve as a background for writing the subsequent country reports which will be based on the analysis of the rich qualitative data collected in the fieldwork of the GEMM Workpackage 4 study.
Research Interests:
This working paper explores new Italian migrants' arrival and settlement in the UK and Germany; work experiences; and, issues of identity and citizenship. It draws on 41 in-depth interviews with migrants in London and Berlin; 10... more
This working paper explores new Italian migrants' arrival and settlement in the UK and Germany; work experiences; and, issues of identity and citizenship. It draws on 41 in-depth interviews with migrants in London and Berlin; 10 'prospective' migrants; and, 10 labour agency experts. www.gemm.eu
Research Interests:
This working paper explores the motivations of new Italian migrants to move to the UK and Germany; their preparation before arrival; and, the ways they get a job in the new context. It draws on in-depth interviews with 41 Italian migrants... more
This working paper explores the motivations of new Italian migrants to move to the UK and Germany; their preparation before arrival; and, the ways they get a job in the new context. It draws on in-depth interviews with 41 Italian migrants in London and Berlin; 10 'prospective' migrants; and, 10 labour agency experts. www.gemm.eu
Research Interests:
This chapter deals with the exceptional case of immigrant religious assimilation in Greece. Within the European context of immigration countries characterised by ongoing secularisation process and immigrant assimilation towards natives'... more
This chapter deals with the exceptional case of immigrant religious assimilation in Greece. Within the European context of immigration countries characterised by ongoing secularisation process and immigrant assimilation towards natives' values and attitudes, Greece is considered as a particular case because of the tendency of immigrants to assimilate towards stronger religious identities of natives. It is argued that such identities concern identification with the nation, which can be instrumental for immigrant's acceptance and integration in the host society. This can be due to some peculiar characteristics of the Greek social, institutional and political setting which makes national identity and Orthodoxy so interwoven. By investigating the conditions in which such a "strategic assimilation" emerges, this chapter also examines whether the Greek case can be relevant for other countries across Europe, calling up for follow-up studies, especially about the role of religious socialization within-families.
This book explores how migrant construction workers in Southern Europe faced unemployment and precarious work conditions during and after the Great Recession. By drawing on rich qualitative data, it investigates the experiences of... more
This book explores how migrant construction workers in Southern Europe faced unemployment and precarious work conditions during and after the Great Recession. By drawing on rich qualitative data, it investigates the experiences of Albanian men within and beyond the workplace, and sheds light on the capacity of migrant builders to deal with economic hardships and the role of their families and masculine identities in shaping their coping practices. This book suggests a new framework for the study of coping practices among migrant (construction) workers, and adds to the study of integration processes in Southern European countries by comparing the narratives of settled migrants in Italy and Greece. This book also looks at the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on migrant builders’ lives in Southern Europe. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach, this book is of interest both to students and researchers in the field of migration studies and those working in the fields of sociology, geography, anthropology, political science and economics.
In suggesting that imaginaries may orient onward migration, this chapter explores work- and life-related subjective representations that may inform desires to leave the initial destination, or decisions for staying put. Empirical evidence... more
In suggesting that imaginaries may orient onward migration, this chapter
explores work- and life-related subjective representations that may inform desires to leave the initial destination, or decisions for staying put. Empirical evidence comes from a qualitative study on Albanian migrant construction workers who resided in Milan and Athens during the crisis. Focusing on labour migrants in Italy and Greece, the study confirms that subjective representations provide a useful tool for understanding drivers for re-emigration, and claims that the analysis of imaginaries may contribute to the debate on motivations for onward migration. This does not imply that onward migration (or not) can be driven only by imaginaries, but it is argued that socially and culturally constructed representations may inform migrants’ decisions.
Questo capitolo si focalizza sui risultati del progetto di ricerca Horizon 2020 “Growth, Equal Opportunities, Migration and Markets” (GEMM) per cui sono state condotte 41 interviste in profondità con cittadini italiani, residenti a Londra... more
Questo capitolo si focalizza sui risultati del progetto di ricerca Horizon 2020 “Growth, Equal Opportunities, Migration and Markets” (GEMM) per cui sono state condotte 41 interviste in profondità con cittadini italiani, residenti a Londra e Berlino. Il capitolo analizza quali riposizionamenti, sul piano identitario, caratterizzino le traiettorie esistenziali dei giovani migranti italiani che hanno scelto, in anni recenti, di trasferirsi a Londra e Berlino. Mostra, inoltre, come si modifichino il senso di appartenenza a una o più comunità politiche assieme all’orizzonte (inter)culturale all’interno del quale le esperienze quotidiane acquistano un senso. Illustra, infine, le conseguenze che il referendum sulla Brexit ha avuto rispetto ai progetti di vita e al sentimento di appartenenza alla comunità europea.
2018. Labour Market Integration of Migrants and Cities: policies management, good practices and recommendations. In Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) Migration and Global Cities (In pubblicazione)
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Migrants' access to the national territory is filtered through categorisation processes that entangle the legal-administrative statuses produced by immigration controls with stratified access to social and political rights, representing a... more
Migrants' access to the national territory is filtered through categorisation processes that entangle the legal-administrative statuses produced by immigration controls with stratified access to social and political rights, representing a form of internal bordering. Drawing upon qualitative data on Civil Society Actors (CSAs) who provide services to homeless migrants in an Italian frontier town, this article identifies two main types of practices that can be used by CSAs to reshape internal borders: either de-institutionalising internal borders through the circulation of non-state resources or engaging with institutionalised internal borders by expanding or ensuring migrants' access to state resources through a mix of cooperation and conflict with governmental actors. The article contributes to the broader debate on the role of CSAs in drawing internal borders in frontier towns and discusses the policy implications of CSAs' actions at the local level and beyond.
This paper focuses on the experiences of rejected asylum-seekers (RAS) caught in their everyday lives between deportation threat and mechanisms of irregularization. We analyze their everyday lives in Italy and Germany, two EU member... more
This paper focuses on the experiences of rejected asylum-seekers (RAS) caught in their everyday lives between deportation threat and mechanisms of irregularization. We analyze their everyday lives in Italy and Germany, two EU member states facing the non-deporability of RAS in different ways according to the specificity of their labour market forces, integration policies, and democratic institutional culture. Furthermore, this paper aims to focus on the temporality as a crucial dimension to grasp the power relations between the technologies implemented to govern migrants on the move, and the everyday struggles put in place to face and overcome the barriers raised to deter their integration. The dialogue between the two case-studies contributes to a better understanding on how post-arrival migration enforcement regimes and their different underlying rationales produce temporal regimes strongly affecting the everyday lives of RAS. From one side, we look at time as technology to govern population in different manner according to the different types of "migration enforcement regimes" (Leerkes and Van Houte, 2020). From the other side, we explore how RAS deal with the politics of time (Low, 2003) that run within asylum and deportation policies, and their (non)-implementation, while struggling to make their life into the host society.
Purpose-This article aims to explore the engagement of refugees and asylum seekers (RAS) in informal and precarious jobs from a civil society actors' perspective. Despite a burgeoning literature on refugee integration and a focus on... more
Purpose-This article aims to explore the engagement of refugees and asylum seekers (RAS) in informal and precarious jobs from a civil society actors' perspective. Despite a burgeoning literature on refugee integration and a focus on institutional integration programmes, little is known about the early insertion of RAS into informal and precarious employment as an alternative to subsidised integration programmes, when these are available. Design/methodology/approach-This article draws on rich qualitative data collected through in-depth interviews with social workers, volunteers and other professionals supporting migrants. Findings-Data analysis shows that migrants' insertion in informal jobs and their rejection of integration programmes may be the result of people's need to access financial capital to cover actual and future needs. Although such an engagement may be criticised for hampering RAS' integration, it can be seen as an important source of agency against insecurity surrounding one's legal status. Originality/value-This article highlights the importance of legal status precarity in shaping informal workers' agency and perceptions of them, opening up a debate on the relevance of informal work in terms of long-term integration and future migration trajectories.
This article comparatively examines forms of (im)mobility among refugees and asylum seekers (RAS) in coping with dispersal process, restrictive migration policies and local socioeconomic characteristics in three cities of Northern Italy.... more
This article comparatively examines forms of (im)mobility among refugees and asylum seekers (RAS) in coping with dispersal process, restrictive migration policies and local socioeconomic characteristics in three cities of Northern Italy. Drawing on qualitative data, it sheds light on the everyday forms of (im)mobility of RAS to resist structural barriers limiting their opportunities to access jobs and welfare services. The Results show that people's capacity to overcome barriers depends upon individual characteristics and informal networks, and is shaped by particularities of local contexts. While people's regular legal status is considered an important resource in achieving goals, refugees and holders of international protection often have to adopt (im)mobility practices to access resources in contexts that do not facilitate their integration. This article highlights the ine ciency of integration and reception policies and advances the theoretical debate on the link between being (im)mobile and agency by calling authors to pay more attention to the (in)voluntary nature of spatial (im)mobility. Finally, it shows the ambivalent outcome of (im)mobilities in terms of agency, highlighting the implications for individuals before and during the COVID-pandemic.
Drawing upon qualitative data on Albanians residing in Italy and Greece, this article furnishes new insights into the topic of undeclared migrant construction workers' agency. It analyses different types of undeclared work through Katz's... more
Drawing upon qualitative data on Albanians residing in Italy and Greece, this article furnishes new insights into the topic of undeclared migrant construction workers' agency. It analyses different types of undeclared work through Katz's theoretical framework that suggests a disaggregated conceptualisation of agency. In so doing, it adds to thinking on the factors shaping fluidity between types of agency and challenges dichotomous views on passive or voluntary participation. The article also highlights that mutual interests between workers and employers enable migrant builders to defy and resist state regulations, despite the impacts of undeclared work on workers and the fact that power dynamics are unequal. Thus, the main contribution the article makes is to suggest a more nuanced understanding of labour agency that may go beyond the conflict between employers and workers. Overall, the article highlights the relevance of this study for different economic sectors, geographical areas and migrant groups.
Seminario sul libro: Migrant Construction Workers in Times of Crisis Relatore: Iraklis Dimitriadis, Università di Milano-Bicocca Discussant: Francesco Della Puppa, Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia Partecipano: Luljeta Cobanaj, Primo... more
Seminario sul libro: Migrant Construction Workers in Times of Crisis

Relatore:
Iraklis Dimitriadis, Università di Milano-Bicocca

Discussant:
Francesco Della Puppa, Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia

Partecipano:
Luljeta Cobanaj, Primo Segretario, Consolato Generale della Repubblica d’Albania di Milano
Dava Djoka, Presidente Associazione Culturale Albanese “Gj.K.Skanderbeg”, Milano
Cesk Kolnikaj, Imprenditore settore edile

Introduce e coordina
Ilenya Camozzi, Università di Milano-Bicocca


Il seminario si terrà martedì 21 novembre 2023 dalle 12.30 alle 14.30, presso l’Edificio U6 nell’Aula Massa (4o piano, Scienze della Formazione) - Università di Milano – Bicocca, P.zza dell'Ateneo Nuovo 1, Milano.
Research Interests: