Transnational collective action in Europe: The case of migrants in Italy and Spain

Abstract

The central aim of this article is to analyse whether migrants based in two southern European countries attempt to engage in ‘transnational’ collective action in new political spaces opened up by the European Union. To what extent and in which ways do migrants living in Italy and Spain organise and act at the European level? This specific aspect of migrants’ mobilisation is discussed as part of a more general analysis of the organisational forms taken by migrants’ collective action, and the models of participation they face in their national host societies. My starting point is to look at the contextual factors that shape collective organisation, which I explore through the concept of ‘political opportunity structure’ adapted from my fieldwork observations. The migrants’ active response to multi‐levelled opportunities (ie. opportunities at both the nation state and transnational level) will be illustrated. In order to provide a more complete and dynamic approach, the different degrees of cultural ‘know‐how’ pertinent to engaging in social action will also be taken into account.