Piccoli comuni: pratiche urbane per l'inclusione sociale degli immigrati

The recent settlement choices of immigrants in Italy point to a growing territorial diffusion; the former concentration trends involving the large urban areas of the country is being substituted by a preference for smaller municipalities. Here, new immigrant groups, characterised by diversified needs and cultures, manifest multiple and overlapping ‘urban demands’, which create unprecedented dynamics of polarisation between new and old residents and different ‘geographies’ in the use of urban space. The latter confirms its key role of palimpsest for integrating the spatial dimension with those of governance, social inclusion and identity. The PRIN research project on “Small municipalities and social cohesion: urban policies and practices for the social and spatial inclusion of immigrants” financed by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research from 2012 to 2014, focused on the above changes, relevant public policies, local responses, and possible tools for an innovative governance of the the ‘diverse society’ in small urban contexts. Evidence from the research suggests that, despite the profound regional differences that characterise Italy, there are significant affinities in local responses and practices, eminently associated with the small dimension. This paper addresses the urban inclusion trajectories of small municipalities in the context of the Italian immigration model, highlighting the structural features of the observed micro-approaches.