Jovens brasileiros, descendentes de italianos. Relações transnacionais e significados da dupla cidadania

The article presents the outcomes of a qualitative investigation whose objective was to write the biography of young Brazilians with Italian origins, young Brazilians waiting for or already possessing Italian citizenship and young Brazilians waiting to get back to Italy. The study examines the multiple meanings of citizenship and analyzes the relationship of Italian Oriundi Brazilians with the country of their ancestors: on the one hand, the interviewees live in a sort of “market of citizenship”, managed by officers with variable levels of expertise and honesty. These officers are responsible for searching the documents required to obtain Italian citizenship and sell the “Italian dream” at great cost. On the other hand, young Brazilians consider their journey to Italy as a way back to their origins, guided by their memories and those of their family and supported by transnational networks of relatives and friends. The case study here presented highlights how migrations are actually endless. These are instead more similar to round trips: young Brazilians’ way back to Italy is opposite to that of their grandparents and great grandparents travelling to Brazil in the past; furthermore, it is a way for them to restore an emotional bond as well as a formal link with the land of their ancestors, but also to search for better opportunities in Italy and in Europe.