‘Second generation immigrants’ or ‘Italians with immigrants parents’? Italian and European perspectives on immigrants and their children

This article provides a critical overview of the debate that is emerging on the socalled ‘second-generation immigrants’ in Italy. It will be argued that the concept ‘secondgeneration immigrants’ might not be a fortunate one. After briefly presenting the heterogeneous realities of immigrant populations in Italy, the article relates the Italian scenario to the wider global context of migration and identity politics, and ends by suggesting some ways in which the Italian debate can possibly be informed by experiences and research results from other European contexts.