Date of Graduation

5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

World Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Advisor/Mentor

Sajder, Ryan Calabretta

Committee Member

Morello, Valentina Angela

Second Committee Member

Phillips, Jared M.

Abstract

As Europe increasingly mirrors aspects of its sociopolitical landscape from the first half of the 20th century, a critical examination of historical biases and identity has become imperative. The enduring myth of Italiani, brava gente, or Italians, good people, continues to shape national identity and inform attitudes toward irregular migration, contributing to a growing number of fatalities in the Mediterranean. These deaths are caused, in part, by migration policies that prioritize keeping irregular migrants from reaching Italy by outsourcing border enforcement and restricting access to resources for organizations that seek to aid vulnerable migrants. The endurance of Italiani, brava gente prevents meaningful reflection on the foundation of the Italian identity, because doing so would mean acknowledging a deeply flawed narrative.

This study utilizes a historical review, examination of academic research, and interviews to understand the impact of an Italian identity built largely by Fascists, and how this is contributing to hostile policy towards irregular migrants. I find this link can be traced back to the fact that Italian institutions have not acknowledged the harm done in the Fascist era and how the current government implements similar narrative control to hide behind the Italiani, brava gente myth today.


Keywords

refugees; Italy; Fascism

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