[Social mobility in France from Italian origin].

Abstract

This study, based on a sample survey, considers Italians in France who have become naturalized citizens and gives special emphasis to the role played by French citizenship in the process of their integration and social mobility. Those interviewed exhibit the sense of a double loyalty: 1) affective and cultural ties with Italy and 2) material and legal ties with France. This situation of ambivalence provokes a wavering between opposing attitudes. Even the notion of "fatherland" is modified, as seen in the fact that many of those interviewed regarding their own national identity said they considered themselves "European" and in this way overcame the conflict between being Italian or French.