Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

Modern anti-racist movements in Italy have primarily sought to defend the rights of migrants, especially as international migration has expanded significantly in the late 1980s to 2000s. From the 1990s to the early 2000s, most anti-racist mobilizations evolved in reaction to attacks on migrants and aimed to confront xenophobic demonstrations organized by local citizen committees and the Lega Nord (Northern League). This first phase of anti-racist mobilizations sought to expand migrant citizenship rights. Unlike the larger presence of the more paternalistic institutional left and trade unions, independent organizations were weakly organized ( Della Porta 2000 ). In the 1990s, the first cycle of mobilizations was primarily local, without coordination at the national level ( Cousin & Vitale 2007 ). Since 1998 anti-racist mobilizations shifted focus to the Centri di Permanenza Temporanea (Temporary Stay Centers, CPTs) and the restriction of freedom and movement for undocumented migrants. The passage of the Turco-Napolitano law in 1998 and then the Bossi-Fini law in 2002 provided the Italian government with powers to hold undocumented migrants in CPTs prior to expulsion. The law introduced “administrative detention” procedures whereby migrants could be imprisoned without committing any crimes while the government deliberated their status. The anti-racist movement demanded the closure ... log in or subscribe to read full text