Start date 01/11/199
End date 31/10/2000

Short project description: The main aim of the research is to observe the socioeconomic integration of Non-E.U. citizens in two different contexts. To do this it has been selected one shipyard located in Ancona (Italy) that represents fordism method of organising production and some small footwear factories in the Fermano district. Doing so it will be point out the similarities and differences between the two contexts.

The main idea is that since the process of socioeconomic integration is structured through a complex system of social relations then, it will be considerable to know, how the various actors take play during this process.

Moreover, due to the rapid change of labor market both in large-scale industries and small-scale factories we will expected that in the last one the entrepreneurs play an important role to help the immigrants socioeconomic integration process. The presence of immigrants in these sectors is the consequence of a set of complex factors related to the specific socioeconomic and geopolitical context of the region.

However, this statement needs to be framed both theoretically and empirically, embedding the whole narrative in the new Italian context of migration. From the theoretical frame of reference it will take in consideration authors like Portes, Piore, Castles and Kosack, etc. It will be useful, in any case, to explore what does the socioeconomic integration notion mean today. Traditionally, this concept was related to those complex of conditions represented by an increasing occasion to gain a better work, house and to have access to social services. This concept was developed in the fordism era.

Research methods used: The research will move with the traditional tools looking for putting together quali-quantitative techniques. First of all there has been a pilot study that involved some immigrant workers in the two contexts. Then, from april to july, a random sample formed by 200 immigrants workers (100 in shipyard and 100 in small-scale industries) will be administered a fill up a questionnaire. Even if the small number of the persons involved do not allow a wide range generalisation, they allow us to understand how the phenomenon is structured at the local level and to have an insight into the socioeconomic integration process.

Planned output Comparing the two sectors will show us the presence of different dynamics and actors that work through the socioeconomic integration process. In particular, we will expected how some features connected within shipyard sector (work contract, destructuring of the sector, etc.) make hard the socioeconomic integration of immigrants. While, at the same time, immigrants who work in the footwear district can benefit from the complex of social relations where they are embedded that help them through the process of socioeconomic integration.

Name of supervisor: Magalì Sarfatti Larson (University of Urbino) Co-tutors: Guido Maggioni (University of Urbino), Enzo Mingione (University of Padova).

Funding organisation: Faculty of Sociology, University of Urbino (Italy).