Ghanaian Immigrants in a Northern Italian Town: Between Social Exclusion and Onward Migration to the UK

Abstract

This paper examines the linkage between exclusion and onward migration of the Ghanaian migrants living in Italy to the UK. It is based on an ethnographic research in the region of Veneto. The paper shows that Italy’s adoption of partial exclusion or subordinated model of integration, the weak position of the African migrants in Italy’s employment sector, lack of employment opportunities for African women and the second generation, blocked mobility, lack of access to housing due to racial discrimination and hostile attitudes of the Northern League party are the main forces behind the onward migration.