Managing immigration in Italy : between law and policy

From the starting of mass immigration in the Eighties to 1998 the Italian discipline of immigration had a marked character of instability and scrappiness.Immigration issues have always occupied a central position in Italy’s public opinion and political system. It is one of the main themes that has drawn attention and concerns of an ever-growing part of the Italian population. Even during the past few years in which economic questions drew much of people’s attention, immigration remained on the public agenda. Political parties have given answers in terms of policy, particularly of a regulatory nature, aimed at limiting influxes and promoting integration in an attempt to find a position that reflects the preferences of their electorate.