The immigration model of Sardinia, an island and a border region

Abstract

With its small numbers of foreign immigrants, originating from both EU and non-EU countries, Sardinia seems to remain a rather distinct and lonely destination compared to the major immigration flows in the Italian peninsula and the other major Italian island, Sicily. High unemployment, especially among the young, which has resulted in persistent labour emigration, is of course the main reason why this region attracts few immigrants, even if they occupy jobs refused by the natives. Moreover, turnover of the foreign population is high with major inflows of seasonal workers employed in the tourist trade. There are also few jobs in agriculture, a sector which by contrast attracts large numbers of foreign workers in southern Italy. Therefore, among the reasons declared in their applications for temporary residence, work ranks lower than in the rest of Italy, family and residence rating higher. A distinctive feature in Sardinia is the large number of foreign workers in the pedlar trade of non-food goods. On the whole, the island does not exhibit the characteristics of a border region, in spite of its connections by boat with two foreign countries (direct with Corsica and indirect with Tunisia, via Trapani) and of its extension towards Africa, but it looks more as it were both a second destination region for people coming from the mainland and a first destination following the common immigration chains. It is undeniably a transit region, soon to be abandoned for more promising lands.