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ABSTRACT
This article investigates an undocumented migrants’ protest that took place in Italy in 2010–2011 and examines the relational dynamics within the movement behind this mobilization. Although there is growing literature exploring different aspects of migrant activism and border struggles, the binomial migrant and politics has mostly been interpreted in terms of migrants as the objects of politics rather than the subjects. During the nine-month protest a similar argument was used by authorities who recurrently stated that the migrants were remotely controlled and manipulated by their Italian advocates. Without underestimating differences in social and cultural capital and power relations within the movement, this article seeks to challenge this approach and problematize the relationship between the actors who organized and participated in the protest. Drawing on 27 in-depth interviews with documented and undocumented migrants and migrant rights activists, the article aims to show how relational dynamics go beyond the subordination–domination dichotomy.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Notes
1. The Security Package passed by the third Berlusconi government in 2009, while not specifically directed at immigration, made irregular immigration a criminal rather than administrative offence (Merlino Citation2009).
2. The presence of female migrants has been marginal and those few who actively took part were mainly care workers from Eastern Europe.
3. The CGIL is the biggest Italian union federation.
4. The association Diritti per Tutti is an NGO based in Brescia and run by national and foreign rights activists. They provide advisory services to documented and undocumented migrants and promote migrant rights campaigns.
5. Radio Onda d’Urto is an independent radio station founded in 1985 and linked to the antagonistic left.
6. M. is a migrant who arrived in Italy from Egypt in 2006 and was a key figure in the protest. He was deported during the second phase of this mobilization.
7. “Fight hard without fear” (Lotta dura senza paura) was a slogan on a banner exposed from the crane during the occupation.
8. The Questura is the territorial police headquarter that is responsible for law enforcement at a province level.
9. Alpini (Alpines) are the elite mountain soldiers of the Italian Army and a powerful symbol of national identity.
10. A derogative word usually used by the Northern League and right wing media to say undocumented.
11. These are traditional dishes from the Pianura Padana which are often used emphatically as symbols of local identity. They are therefore counterposed to couscous, which is identified as migrants’ food regardless of their country of origin.
12. The Consiglio di Stato is a body that evaluates the constitutionality of Italian laws.
