'Vertical mobility'. Migrants' trajectories within/between the western Alps and southern Italy. Issue 5 (20th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cottino, Gaia
• Is Part Of: Journal of modern Italian studies. Volume 26:Issue 5(2021)
• Page Start: 627
• Page End: 643
• Publication Date: 2021-10-20
• Subjects: food -- vertical mobility -- agriculture -- mountains -- asylum seekers; cibo -- mobilità verticale -- agricoltura -- montagne -- richiedenti asilo; Italy -- History -- 20th century -- Periodicals; Italy -- History -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Italy -- Civilization -- 20th century -- Periodicals; Italy -- Civilization -- 19th century -- Periodicals; 945.091
• DOI: 10.1080/1354571X.2021.1953775
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1354-571X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In the past twenty years a renewed trend of migration has flown into the Italian Alps, inverting the out-migration trend. New mountain dwellers, a heterogeneous population ranging from former urban residents who chose to inhabit highlands, to asylum seekers forced into a highland life while waiting for their documents, have adjusted to the socio-ecological environment which imposes mobility. The contribution analyses in the first place the twofold mobility of the mountain dwellers, vertical in altitude and latitude, and stresses, on the side, the inequalities and exploitation at the basis of the latitudinal mobility and, on the other hand, the mobility power and capital migrants agentively play in such regime of mobility. Questioning the extent to which mobility can affect the multiple and varying migration projects, the contribution argues that juridical tools, such as the network contract within the Alpine farming system, can emplace migrants and enhance their social mobility.