Roman and Italian Identity is a very complicated and difficult concept to explain because, like the USA, there isn’t an ideal image that illustrates and explains the “face” or image of their country.
I will begin by explaining how I define “native Italians” or locals whose families have been the descendants of their homeland, Italy, for several generations. There are several social, cultural, and physical forces that help shape this aspect of Italian identity including their religion, native tongue or language, ancestry, occupation, & their own ideology of what makes them a true Italian.
Roman Catholicism has been Italy’s dominant religion for hundreds (if not thousands) of years and is a critical part of Italy’s history. The Roman church (and Vatican City) is well respected, worshipped, and a powerful institution in all of Italy making it an important attribute of Italian identity.
The Italian language also plays a fundamental role of Italian identity because it’s the tongue of their homeland, ancestors, and countrymen. Knowing, understanding, and implementing the Italian language into their everyday lives separate native Italians from their immigrant counterpart whose own native language comes from a different region of the world, and therefore often creates a troublesome language barrier between them.
Ancestry plays a critical role in Italian identity because their ancestors are a part of world history that dates back to their ancient civilization; when Rome was founded by the mythological figures of Romulus & Remus. Furthermore, their ancestors were once the rulers of the Roman Empire who conquered and expanded their country and built temples, coliseums, and forums – world renowned architecture that rivalled the abilities and inspired other architects in that time period. Needless to say, native Italians are extremely proud of their country and their history. Their pride and confidence can be observed in the way in which they hold themselves as the ideal model or image of Italian identity.
The labour industry and job force is the main problematic issue that native Italians feel create the barrier between themselves and the immigrants. The native Italians believe that all of the “white & blue collar” job opportunities are solely for them - a right in which their native status reserves for them. However, this leaves all the low skill jobs, or, in other words, the jobs that the locals don’t want for the immigrants. Ironically, Italy’s economy heavily depends on the immigrant job force that helps sustains their fragile system. These businesses heavily rely on the immigrant work force that is willing to work for long hours and for low wages in order to get by. Otherwise, these industries wouldn’t be able to sustain a lot of the low to medium size factories that are prevalent in northern and central Italy along with several agricultural farms in southern Italy who also depend on many desperate immigrants.
The counterpart to the first aspect of Italian identity is comprised of Immigrant Italians, refugees, second + generation Italians, or, otherwise, all other Italians who they themselves or their families are not native to Italy.
This is a serious issue amongst native Italians who some (or, disputably, even most) agree that “Italy [should be solely] for Italians”. From the limited information I have gained through readings, research, and a few interviews I believe that Italians feel that their culture, language, religion, and, ultimately, their “authentic Italian” identity is threatened by the immigrant masses.
These immigrants have emigrated from several countries including Tunisia, Bangladesh, Albania, Algeria, the Philippines, Romania, Peru, and several other nations from Northwest Africa as well as Southeast Asia. Many of these immigrants leave their native countries solely on their own free will, possibly looking for a better way of life, but some are forced to leave – resulting in their refugee status.
Native Italians perceive these social and cultural differences as threatening. The influences on Italian culture from the immigrant population is rapidly changing the “face of Italy” and transforming Italian identity.
The conflicts between religion, language, social-economic roles, and culture have created hostilities between the native Italians and the Italian immigrants to the point where no immediate solution can be seen in the near future. The Italian government has made it nearly impossible to successfully integrate immigrants into Italian societies, instead isolating them tens of miles outside major cities in several legal encampments.
Therefore, one can only conclude that an ideal image illustrating Italy, native Italians, Italian immigrants and Italian culture does not exist. There will be a continuous struggle defining the perfect representation of Italian identity for many years to come.
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