Expectations and Reality: A Case Study of Return Migration from the United States to Southern Italy

Abstract

A summary of Italy's emigration flows shows that Southern Italy sent her people abroad in great number, and, at the same time, return migration to Italy has been characteristic of a minority, e.g., an estimated 3000 from the US alone, 1964-68. Italy's modernization proceeded unevenly, the South remaining agricultural and for the most part, economically backward. Any form of identification with Italy as a country did not affect the Southern peasant thus preparing his/her way to emigrate as soon as any opportunity presented itself. Due to all the conditions which facilitated emigration from Italy on an individualistic and nonideological basis and without an understanding of the economic forces pushing the emigrant out, and in view of the lack of understanding of how the New World economy of the US was constituted, it is no surprise that the return migration of some remained as much ad hoc and based solely on individual motivations as was the emigration. The 2 fundamental approaches to the concept of immigrant both start by considering the immigrant in his/her new situation. 1 approach views the immigrant's success in the new situation as dependent upon acquiring values and patterns of behavior which would resolve his/her problems in the new society. According to the other approach, in order to resolve the problems of his/her new situation the immigrant must become critically aware of the consequences of his/her actions. The 1st view of conceiving integration has been prevalent, particularly in the study of international migration. And, mass migration from Italy, from the emigrant's perspective, is connected to a repeatedly unsuccessful search for economic success and failure to reach prevailing cultural objectives. The act of emigration, of abandonment, may thus be seen as the resolution of the disparity between the means at the emigrant's disposal and the objectives he/she seeks. The great majority succeed but some fail, and if they have a home and family to return to, they begin to think of returning. Returned migrants interviewed experienced an abrupt passage from a rural to an urban and industrial world. Few of the immigrants whose background was in a fa rm occupation engaged in farming upon arrival in the US. The factor determining whether the immigrant surmounts the problems of the 1st phase of his/her experience is his/her work. If the work the immigrant has found makes him/her part of the production process, the money earned makes him/her part of the consumption process. And, this is the 1st turning point in the experience as an immigrant. A return of conservativism is given when the immigrant continues to consider his/her earnings and investments in terms of the traditional scheme appropriate to the home country. Return of innovation is the term given to those who were unwilling or unable to accept fully their expected position in the new society and tended to detach themselves, even to the point of return to the mother country. The consequences of returns to the native society are summarized. In sum, it appears that returned migrants cannot function as vehicles of social development.

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