Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

School activism: the meanings of political participation of young migrants in Italian schools

Farini, F. (2017) School activism: the meanings of political participation of young migrants in Italian schools. In: Race, R. (ed.) Advancing Multicultural Dialogues in Education. London: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 87-105.

Item Type: Book Section
Abstract: The chapter presents the results of four researchers with young migrants that took place in Italy between 2006 and 2014, over an unfinished economic crisis, the rise and fall of xenophobic political parties and a continuing debate around migration and inclusion in different social contexts. Data consists of young migrants' narratives, promoted and collected in 62 focus group and 118 individual interviews. Narratives produced by young migrant converge in suggesting the criticism of the idea of cultural identity as an “essential” identity, something given and fixed (Hofstede, 1980; Ting Toomey, 1999). The researches presented in this contribution support a different theoretical claim, underpinned by social constructivism, advancing the idea that cultural identity is negotiated in public discourse and interaction (Baraldi, 2009; Holliday, 2011; Piller, 2011; Zhu Hua, 2014). Data collected in the four social research projects invite us to consider political participation as a crucial context of the construction of cultural identity through social practices.
Subjects: L Education > LC Special aspects of Education > LC3701 Immigrants or ethnic and linguistic minorities. Bilingual schools and bilingual education
J Political Science > JF Political institutions (General) > JF799 Political rights. Political participation
Creators: Farini, Federico
Editors: Race, Richard
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: Faculties > Faculty of Health & Society > Applied Social Studies & Sociology
Date: 1 December 2017
Date Type: Publication
Page Range: pp. 87-105
Title of Book: Advancing Multicultural Dialogues in Education
Place of Publication: London
Number of Pages: 333
Language: English
ISBN: 9783319605579
Media of Output: Hardback
Status: Published / Disseminated
Refereed: Yes
Related URLs:
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/9590

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