Refugee settlement and inclusive local communities: An ethnographic study in the dwindling town of Riace, Italy

Abstract

Since the 1990s and especially since the so-called Refugee Crisis in 2015, hundreds of thousands of people have applied for asylum in Europe. This rising number of asylum seekers has, among other things, led to more negative public attitudes toward refugees. Whereas governments and NGOs in some areas struggle with accommodating newcomers while taking public attitudes into account, other, mostly rural regions face the additional challenge of depopulation that leads to socio-economic difficulties for the people left behind. An innovative approach that addresses both these challenges was developed in the dwindling town of Riace, Italy. Local NGOs and the municipality have been hosting migrants and refugees for over twenty years and combine immigrant inclusion programs with the sustainable development of this small and depopulating community. Based on extensive ethnographic fieldwork, this dissertation examines and uncovers some critical policy aspects and local social dynamics that impacted newcomers' inclusion into the pioneering Riace community. The case of Riace can also serve as an example to other small European towns that (wish to) host refugees. Findings show that governments' financial, legal, and institutional support is crucial for the success of local immigrant inclusion practices. In addition, strong local (e.g., political) leadership that encourages people to be actively involved in community initiatives and, if possible, appeals to shared pro-social values to generate support for newcomers positively impacts refugees' inclusion. The findings further point to the advantages of small-scale refugee reception over large-scale and often segregated reception centers, as the setting of a small community can stimulate social dynamics that promote the inclusion of newcomers, for example, the formation of positive local relations and friendships. However, local migrant inclusion practices should simultaneously and equally address the socio-economic concerns and needs of receiving communities and refugees alike since this can result in a shared community perspective that benefits all its members. The findings of this dissertation also have methodological and theoretical implications for social science theories that aim to provide an understanding of community dynamics, particularly for social identity theory, intergroup contact theory, gossip theories, theories of multi-level governance, and more generally for the discussion of the role of theory in ethnographic research.