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The closing conference organised at the University of Trieste brought together international experts and institutional representatives to explore migration from multiple angles — including religious, cultural, and legal perspectives within the European and national frameworks.
The conference has been a great success ➡️ Media coverage: rainews.it and ansa.it
While economic factors were addressed, the discussions emphasized that cultural and religious dimensions play a central role in shaping both identity and social coexistence. As noted by Prof. Alberto Bisin of New York University, although demographic and geographic proximity to Africa influences migration flows, the economic impact is often overstated compared to the cultural factors driving public opinion. Bisin highlighted that calls for stricter migration policies are frequently rooted in cultural concerns rather than purely economic realities.
From a legal perspective, the conference addressed protection against ethnic and religious discrimination, outlining the instruments available under Italian, EU and International Law. In particular, it highlighted the role of the European Convention of Human Rights — judicial and otherwise — for victims of such discrimination. The discussions reaffirmed that freedom of religion, recognized as a human right, must be protected within the broader migration context, as also stated by some of some speakers (Prof. Eduardo Savarese of Università Federico II Napoli, Prof. Giuseppe Pascale of Università di Tieste and Dr. Imen Gallala-Arndt of the Max Planck Institute-Halle).
Food for thought: Reflections on economic integration (and beyond)
Food for thought: Reflections on economic integration (and beyond)
In the opening session of the conference, the discussion commenced with an examination of economic integration as an initial dimension of the broader integration process for migrants, immigrants, and foreigners.
Economic integration is often understood through measurable indicators: employment, income generation, and tax contributions. However, while these factors signify economic participation, they do not encompass the entirety of integration. Full integration also entails cultural inclusion. For instance, beyond employment and tax contributions, cultural integration may be reflected in activities such as enrolling one’s children in local schools or participating in community organizations, such as associations dedicated to public welfare.
The legal perspective, however, introduced a more complex framework. It highlighted: (i) the existence of nested minorities within migrant communities (e.g., LGBTQA+ individuals); (ii) the differential treatment of religious institutions, such as the Catholic Church compared to other denominations, within the Italian constitutional context, juxtaposed with the situation in Germany; and (iii) issues related to religious conversion.
This raised a critical question: if an immigrant were to convert to another religion primarily as a means of facilitating integration—or even naturalization—would such a conversion not signify a failure of the cultural integration previously discussed?
If conversion is instrumentalized in this way, it undermines the authenticity of integration, effectively negating its very premise.
During the conference...
During the conference...
...Social Dinner Time
...Social Dinner Time
Many thanks to all speakers, members of the PRIN project, members of the Advisory Board of the PRIN project, experts and colleagues who engaged in rigorous analysis and constructive dialogue, fostering a nuanced understanding of the legal, cultural, and economic dimensions of migration: Valter Sergo (Deputy Rector of the University of Trieste), Georg Meyr (Dean of the Department of Political and Social Sciences), Francesco Oliva (Board of the Trieste Bar Association Council), Carmelo Danisi (University Alma Mater Studiorum, Bologna), Giuseppe Pascale (University of Trieste), Alberto Bisin (New York University), Giorgia Marini (Sapienza University, Rome), Luciano Mauro (University of Trieste), Agustin Motilla de la Calle (University Carlos III, Madrid), Daniele Ferrari (University of Eastern Piedmont), Vincenzo Pacillo (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), Imen Gallala-Arndt (Max-Planck-Institut für ethnologische Forschung, Halle), Pietro Faraguna (University of Trieste), Elisa Olivito (Sapienza University, Rome), Lynn Hillary (University of Amsterdam), Fabio Spitaleri (University of Trieste), Francesco Cherubini (LUISS, Rome), Marco Balboni (University Alma Mater Studiorum, Bologna), Erica Leni (Expert, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), Stephanie E. Berry (University of Sussex, Brighton), Jeroen D. Temperman (Erasmus University, Rotterdam), Maria Irene Papa (Sapienza University, Rome), Francesco Deana (University of Udine), Deborah F. Casalin (University of Antwerp), Łukasz Dawid Dąbrowski (Warsaw School of Economics, Warsaw), Eduardo Savarese (University Federico II, Naples).
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