Le istituzioni locali e il mondo associativo per la costruzione di una rete in materia di cooperazione, cultura di pace, integrazione multietnica, promozione dei diritti umani e della solidarietà fra i popoli.
Makno Research, Italians’ opinion toward Immigrants and vice versa
A social research, effectuated in March and May 2007, ordered by the Home Affairs Minister to the Makno & consultino society, reply to the following questions and else:
At which level is the reciprocal knowledge between Italians and Immigrants? What is the percentage of socio-cultural integration for foreigners in Italy? Are Italians in favour of the proposal to diminish years from 10 to 5 to obtain Italian citizenship?
According to the survey, “immigration” arrives at the 8th position of the Italians’ preoccupations with 7,9%, at the top position there is the unemployment, seen as the priority, and second position the rise of prices and the Health Care.
42% of the interviewed have expressed an “open mind” toward immigrants, instead of 33% which have expressed the opposite. The rest, that is to say the 25%, seemed to be non involved.
On the one hand, the survey underlines the fact that Immigrants are useful for the society for two reasons, firstly they are supporting elderly people (alone or with their family), secondly they are an economic resource supplying the lack of workforce in the enterprises. On the other hand, the detractors see immigrants as a huge cost, according to them, immigrants use often health care without having rights and so do not pay taxes. Finally, the majority of the interviewed think that immigrants do not represent a threat for the cultural and social identity.
Concerning the reform of citizenship, the majority of the Italians interviewed is in favour (54,5%) to diminish the number of years to obtain the citizenship. The same as the 47,6% of foreigners agreed to the foreseen criteria of the reform to obtain the Italian citizenship, although the 13% contest the examination’s criteria seen for them as an obstacle to achieve the citizenship, finally the 16% does not know.
To conclude the survey, the immigrants’ opinions toward Italians have been classified into five groups:
-Positive view and wish to assimilate to Italians. That is the majority with 36,7%.
-Negative view and think that Italians are racists, with 33,2%
-The ones who feel criticize the other immigrants’ behaviours
-Those who do not wish to belong to the Italian society
-Others saw Italians as defenders of the Immigrants’ reputation
