Italia: La chiusura della Casa dell’Emigrante come spunto riflessione sui rientri degli emigrati italiani

In the literature on migration, as well as in social policies regarding this phenomenon, the situation of returning emigrants receives scant attention. This essay establishes an intricate connection between attitudes and policies that prevail in a country regarding emigration and those concerning immigration. The case of Italy provides a prime example for this as it once was a classical country of emigration, only to turn, in recent decades, into a country that appears highly attractive (and relatively accessible) to immigrants. The essay traces the pervasive ambiguity that characterizes this country’s attitudes towards emigration from the beginning of mass emigration shortly after the unification of Italy in 1868 to the emigration policies of the fascist regime of Mussolini and the post-World War II waves of emigration right through to the corresponding ambiguity concerning the status of immigrants in contemporary society, including the indifferent treatment of returning Italian emigrants who constitute a considerable numerical phenomenon. These reflections take their origin from the impending closure of a reception centre in Lazio, the Casa dell’Emigrante near Sant’Elia Fiumerapido, Province of Frosinone, ostensibly for financial reasons. This centre had been the only one of its kind in the whole of Italy dealing officially with the needs of repatriated Italians. It had assisted returning emigrants both with practical matters, such as negotiating the labyrinth of Italian bureaucracy , and with psychological implications of a return, which are often considerable given the time lag of experiences with current social realities and the frequently unrealistic expectations associated with the return. Questions of identity become highly acute in those circumstances. The threatened closure of the centre illustrates the unwillingness of the state to face up to the factual prevalence of migratory experiences in the country as a whole and as a core element of national history, experiences of migration in both directions. The statistics speak for themselves: of the 4.660.427 persons who left Italy between 1880 and 1950, 2.322.451 have returned, almost exactly 50%. To those have to be added 3.628.430 returnees of the 5.109.860 emigrants who left Italy between the end of World War II and 1976 for Europe alone. Attitudes towards people leaving changed ostensibly over time. In the first two decades after Unification parliament on the one hand wanted to show some concern over the fate of its citizens, not wanting to abandon those newly created citizens entirely to their own destiny, while on the other portraying their decisions to emigrate as expressions of individual liberty and responsibility and not necessitated by want and poverty. Emigrants had to prove, paradoxically that they had the requisite means to emigrate when in fact poverty was largely driving them to emigrate. To admit that publicly would have amounted to admission of economic and political failure made evident through emigration. In contrast to that Mussolini’s emigration policies not only enforced large population movements within the territory of Italy to balance unemployment between regions and particularly between North and South, but also declared it citizen’s duty to be ready to move also to the colonies, thereby ‘turning emigration as a sign of social crisis into a sign of national strength and the success of the country’s political agenda’ (Gaspari 2001, p. 34). The duplicity continued even after World War II when secret deals were done with the USA to allow a continuous flow of Italian immigrants and EU membership obviously further facilitated the departure of unemployed, impoverished Italians. With the growing prosperity of Italy the reversal of the direction of migration became more obvious. On the basis of empirical research conducted by one of the author on returning emigrants four types of motives for returning can be distinguished: 1. Return as a result of failure – particularly the emigrants who left during the 1950-1970 period usually had no linguistic preparation, and in any case the gap between the spoken and the written language is enormous with the latter often being insurmountable. This gives rise to nostalgic sentiments which motivates a return into an environment where language is familiar 2. Return as a means of preserving an identity – the life of emigrants often takes place within ghetto-like conditions where familiarity is being reproduced but under restricted conditions and hence not entirely authentic. The necessity for saving money permits only a partial entry into the host society and at the same time any accumulating savings add to the desire to return home where life can be lived fully again – or so it seems. 3. Return of investment – the impossibility to become fully part of another society often motivates migrants to accumulate not so much material wealth but new experiences and competences which they then aim to reinvest in their home country. 4. Return to retire – for many emigrants returning home becomes acute once they leave a productive occupation and feelings of estrangement build up, in conjunction with the efforts of having invested in building a house back home. All those motives are associated with a variety of difficulties on the actual return home because, above all, time in relation to the country of origin has been suspended for the emigrant and the encounter with the reality of that country reveals constant discrepancies and requires constant readjustment. This is where the need for assistance to returning emigrants arises. The fact that such an important centre of assistance has been closed is further confirmation of the still prevailing politics of ambiguity which nominally demand integration from nationals and non-nationals alike but deny the means of achieving this. Citizenship is not a natural result of nationality but requires the means for active participation in society. Furthermore, the experiences of returning immigrants provide important cues for the double ambivalence in which immigrants to Italy live between the demands made on them to integrate, the simultaneous threats of repatriation and the alienation from the immigrants’ home country which grows inexorably during the absence. The state can only regain its credibility by putting an end to this ambiguity and provide to returning emigrants, and immigrants alike, the means of reconstructing strong communal identities.

Edna Chamberlain (1921 -2005): A Leader through Times of Transition and Change

Professor Edna Chamberlain was an outstanding leader in Australian social work. She contributed extensively to social work education at the University of Queensland, the social work profession through her leadership of the Australian Association of Social Workers and to the community through advocacy for progressive social policies. Her life experiences were influential is shaping her career and her particular teaching and research interests. Early in her life, Chamberlain was exposed to individual deprivation as a result of the Great Depression. This provided the incentive for a career in social work. She worked as a social work practitioner for some years and entered the academic world until after the death of her husband. In the university and profession, she was confronted by conflict between traditionalists and those wanting immediate reform. In managing these tensions, she tried to find the common ground but these tensions also moderated and changed her views about the purpose and practice of social work. Her rich practice and later research and teaching background provided a strong basis for her professional leadership, research activities and curriculum initiatives. Whilst social casework methods were influential early in her career she sought in later years to integrate the private pain of individuals with social policy and community planning by focusing on the purpose of social work – demonstrating her commitment to the disadvantaged in the context of social justice.

Food Insecurity and the Behavioral and Intellectual Development of Children: A Review of the Evidence

Background: Given that an alarming 1 in 5 children in the USA are at risk of hunger (1 in 3 among black and Latino children), and that 3.9 million households with children are food insecure, it is crucial to understand how household food insecurity (HFI) affects the present and future well-being of our children. Purpose: The objectives of this review article are to: (i) examine the association between HFI and child intellectual, behavioral and psycho-emotional development, controlling for socio-economic indicators; (ii) review the hypothesis that HFI is indeed a mediator of the relationship between poverty and poor child development outcomes; (iii) examine if the potential impact of HFI on caregivers’ mental health well-being mediates the relationship between HFI and child development outcomes. Methods: Pubmed search using the key words “food insecurity children.” For articles to be included they had to: (i) be based on studies measuring HFI using an experience-based scale, (ii) be peer reviewed, and (iii) include child intellectual, behavioral and/or socio-emotional development outcomes. Studies were also selected based on backward and forward Pubmed searches, and from the authors’ files. After reviewing the abstracts based on inclusion criteria a total of 26 studies were selected. Results: HFI represents not only a biological but also a psycho-emotional and developmental challenge to children exposed to it. Children exposed to HFI are more likely to internalize or externalize problems, as compared to children not exposed to HFI. This in turn is likely to translate into poor academic/cognitive performance and intellectual achievement later on in life. A pathway through which HFI may affect child development is possibly mediated by caregivers’ mental health status, especially parental stress and depression. Thus, HFI is likely to foster dysfunctional family environments. Conclusion: Findings indicate that food insecure households may require continued food assistance and psycho-emotional support until they transition to a “stable” food secure situation. This approach will require a much better integration of social policies and access to programs offering food assistance and mental health services to those in need. Findings also fully justify increased access of vulnerable children to programs that promote early in life improved nutrition as well as early psycho-social and cognitive stimulation opportunities.

Vulnerability Following a Critical Life Event: Temporary Crisis or Chronic Distress? A Psychological Controversy, Methodological Considerations, and Empirical Evidence

This contribution deals with psychological vulnerability resulting from marital breakup after a long-term relationship. Despite the existing vast body of consolidated knowledge on divorce and psychological adaptation, there are still several controversies concerning the vulnerabilizing impact of marital breakup. One major issue refers to the question of whether vulnerability after marital breakup is a temporary crisis or rather a chronic strain. In this chapter we want to present two possible methodological options to tackle this question: First, comparing a sample of almost 1000 middle-aged persons, who were married on average 19 years, and who experienced a marital split within the last 5 years (4 time groups), with a group of age-matched married controls with regard to various indicators of psychological vulnerability (such as depression and hopelessness). Second, comparing within the divorced group the most vulnerable individuals (in terms of depression, hopelessness, life satisfaction) with those who were the least affected, regarding intra-personal resources (personality, resilience), divorce circumstances, post-divorce situation, and socio-economic resources. The study results underline the vulnerabilizing impact of marital breakup, but at the same time they reveal individual differences in psychological adaptation especially due to personality, new partnership, economic resources, and last but not least due to time. Furthermore our data strongly suggest that there is not a generalized psychological vulnerability after marital breakup, but that the emotional dimensions such as depression or feelings of not overcoming the loss are more affected than the more cognitive ones such as life satisfaction.

El modelo 1 a 1 en las Escuelas Secundarias. Un estudio a partir de la experiencia de las provincias de Entre Ríos, Formosa y Misiones. 16H362

En el Marco del Convenio de Cooperación, N° 375/12, suscripto entre la Universidad Nacional de Misiones, el Ministerio de Educación de la Nación y la Organización de Estados Iberoamericanos (OEI), el presente proyecto pretende conocer y analizar los cambios y/o continuidades que se estarían produciendo en las aulas, instituciones, sujetos y comunidades de las provincias de Entre Ríos, Formosa y Misiones, a partir de la implementación del Programa Conectar Igualdad. Programa que resulta ser uno de los principales pilares y referentes significativos de un nuevo perfil de política educativa, por parte de un estado nacional que asume su centralidad y responsabilidad como garante del derecho a la educación y la inclusión social, educativa y digital. Cuyo fin, en última instancia, es la revalorización de la escuela pública, a partir de la promoción de la inclusión digital y el mejoramiento de la calidad de la educación, garantizando el acceso y uso de las TIC’s en los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje.

Relación nación-provincia en salud

En el presente proyecto de tesis pretendemos explicar de forma clara y precisa las políticas de protección social en salud dentro de los niveles subnacionales de la Argentina, poniendo especial énfasis en la provincia de Mendoza. Es por ello, que se analiza la implementación del Programa Sumar –Programa Nacional de Desarrollo de Seguros Públicos de Salud. El trabajo pretende describir cuáles son los componentes, actores, responsabilidades, ejecutores y controladores que conforman el Programa Nacional de Desarrollo de Seguros Públicos de Salud- Programa Sumar y a su vez, analizar cómo contribuye su implementación a la mejora en la calidad de la cobertura de la salud de la ciudadanía mendocina.

Las Organizaciones Sociales y la Asignación Universal por Hijo

La Asignación Universal por hijo para la Protección Social se enmarca en una nueva concepción de política social que sustenta sus fundamentos en la ley 24.714 que establece el “Régimen de Asignaciones Familiares" y la ley 26.061 que tiene por objeto la “Protección integral de los Derechos de las niñas, niños y adolescentes." Dicha perspectiva posiciona a la AUH en el marco de las políticas de inclusión social reconociendo a los destinatarios de la misma como sujetos de derechos.

Los 35 sitiales del saber médico y la reproducción capitalista del sistema de salud

Este trabajo analiza una de las posibles relaciones entre el modelo médico científico y la reproducción capitalista del sistema de salud. Se estudia el período 1930-1955, como un momento histórico determinado donde se dieron profundos cambios económicos, políticos y sociales, tanto a nivel nacional como internacional, al mismo tiempo donde se mostraba la mayor disociación entre los objetivos que se proponía la ciencia médica y las necesidades y problemáticas de salud de la mayoría de la población. Por un lado, se analiza a la Academia Nacional de Medicina como institución de referencia, por ser considerada como un lugar de reconocimiento, prestigio, status y de incuestionable saber médico científico y se analiza el discurso de sus miembros -los 35 sitiales- en ese período, confrontándolo con la real situación de salud de la población argentina y las políticas de salud de la época. Por otra parte se analiza como, los avances de las ciencias y su aplicación en el ámbito de la salud, han sido direccionados hacia enfoques que favorecieron el modelo de acumulación y reproducción capitalista. La intervención del Estado en políticas de inclusión social, intentó romper con el modelo vertical de incuestionable saber biológico. Sin embargo, la resistencia y tensión que en su momento manifestó la Academia para no abandonar los valores y principios propios del decimonónico, lejos de quedar en el olvido han sido rescatados por ciencia-técnica al servicio del capital

¿Ganancia o supervivencia? La persistencia de la informalidad laboral y el papel de los sectores empleadores en la Argentina pos 2003

Esta ponencia se enmarca en un proyecto de investigación más amplio que tiene por objetivo indagar en la relación Estado-empleadores analizando el desarrollo de las políticas públicas orientadas al mercado de trabajo a partir de 2003, en particular aquellas referidas a la registración laboral. Nuestra hipótesis de trabajo sostiene que el papel del sector empleador y su constitución histórica en el entramado de relaciones sociales, políticas y económicas incide, resiste y condiciona la puesta en marcha de políticas de intervención estatal que pretendan alterar la relación asimétrica entre capital y trabajo, volviendo a la informalidad una estrategia permanente de empleabilidad y uso de la fuerza de trabajo que pone en jaque la capacidad de intervención del Estado en la promoción de políticas de inclusión social. Para abordar nuestro objetivo nos centramos en el estudio del comportamiento del sector empleador y lo que podríamos denominar como prácticas empresariales de resistencia al registro. En este primer avance de investigación utilizamos una metodología que combino el análisis documental y bibliográfico, presentando aquí las primeras reflexiones al respecto

Work instability versus mental health

This contribution is part of a research on guidance and employment in La Plata , province of Buenos Aires (Argentina) undertaken jointly by the Chairs of Preventive Psychology and Vocational Guidance, both pertaining to the course of studies for Psychology at the National University of La Plata. This research is based on four axes, namely, education-work-social policies-health. This paper shall focus around the health axis, which is not provided with placement and employment services. Some unsystematical guidance experiences from the services of Adolescence and Mental Health are currently under way in the area. Research points to the existence of new demands of psychological treatment from a population ("the new poor") afraid of losing their jobs -or even unemployed- who was not in the habit of going to the public hospital. In the casuistry explored here, people afraid of losing their jobs present more psychosomatic complexities. Local population is also analysed and the said analysis is linked with several national and international research projects.

Work instability versus mental health

This contribution is part of a research on guidance and employment in La Plata , province of Buenos Aires (Argentina) undertaken jointly by the Chairs of Preventive Psychology and Vocational Guidance, both pertaining to the course of studies for Psychology at the National University of La Plata. This research is based on four axes, namely, education-work-social policies-health. This paper shall focus around the health axis, which is not provided with placement and employment services. Some unsystematical guidance experiences from the services of Adolescence and Mental Health are currently under way in the area. Research points to the existence of new demands of psychological treatment from a population ("the new poor") afraid of losing their jobs -or even unemployed- who was not in the habit of going to the public hospital. In the casuistry explored here, people afraid of losing their jobs present more psychosomatic complexities. Local population is also analysed and the said analysis is linked with several national and international research projects.

Los 35 sitiales del saber médico y la reproducción capitalista del sistema de salud

Este trabajo analiza una de las posibles relaciones entre el modelo médico científico y la reproducción capitalista del sistema de salud. Se estudia el período 1930-1955, como un momento histórico determinado donde se dieron profundos cambios económicos, políticos y sociales, tanto a nivel nacional como internacional, al mismo tiempo donde se mostraba la mayor disociación entre los objetivos que se proponía la ciencia médica y las necesidades y problemáticas de salud de la mayoría de la población. Por un lado, se analiza a la Academia Nacional de Medicina como institución de referencia, por ser considerada como un lugar de reconocimiento, prestigio, status y de incuestionable saber médico científico y se analiza el discurso de sus miembros -los 35 sitiales- en ese período, confrontándolo con la real situación de salud de la población argentina y las políticas de salud de la época. Por otra parte se analiza como, los avances de las ciencias y su aplicación en el ámbito de la salud, han sido direccionados hacia enfoques que favorecieron el modelo de acumulación y reproducción capitalista. La intervención del Estado en políticas de inclusión social, intentó romper con el modelo vertical de incuestionable saber biológico. Sin embargo, la resistencia y tensión que en su momento manifestó la Academia para no abandonar los valores y principios propios del decimonónico, lejos de quedar en el olvido han sido rescatados por ciencia-técnica al servicio del capital

¿Ganancia o supervivencia? La persistencia de la informalidad laboral y el papel de los sectores empleadores en la Argentina pos 2003

Esta ponencia se enmarca en un proyecto de investigación más amplio que tiene por objetivo indagar en la relación Estado-empleadores analizando el desarrollo de las políticas públicas orientadas al mercado de trabajo a partir de 2003, en particular aquellas referidas a la registración laboral. Nuestra hipótesis de trabajo sostiene que el papel del sector empleador y su constitución histórica en el entramado de relaciones sociales, políticas y económicas incide, resiste y condiciona la puesta en marcha de políticas de intervención estatal que pretendan alterar la relación asimétrica entre capital y trabajo, volviendo a la informalidad una estrategia permanente de empleabilidad y uso de la fuerza de trabajo que pone en jaque la capacidad de intervención del Estado en la promoción de políticas de inclusión social. Para abordar nuestro objetivo nos centramos en el estudio del comportamiento del sector empleador y lo que podríamos denominar como prácticas empresariales de resistencia al registro. En este primer avance de investigación utilizamos una metodología que combino el análisis documental y bibliográfico, presentando aquí las primeras reflexiones al respecto