Alessandra Corradoa.corrado@unical.it

Francesco Carusofracaruso@unical.it XXIII World Congress of Rural Sociology, The New Rural World:

From Crises to Opportunities, July 29-August 4 2012, Lisbon

OutlinesTheoretical Background

Mediterranean model of migrationsfor

A new Mediterranean model of agriculture and rural fabric

HypothesisCase studies

The Sybaris Plain in Calabria (Italy)Almeria in Andalusia (Spain)

Theoretical BackgroundDifferentiated countryside (Morgan et al.

2000)Southern European Model of Migrations

(King 2000)Californian Model of agriculture and reserve

army of labor (Berlan) in Southern Europe?Multifunctional migrations in rural areas

(Kasimis 2008)

The Mediterranean model of migrationspolycentric aggregation of migrants due to the

presence of several national groups and the continuous emergence of new ones.

segmentation of the labor market according to ethnic origin, as a result of stigmatization based on racial criteria combined with capitalist restructuring and respatialization. (King 2000)

Irregular immigrants the apparent paradox of “cohabitation” exists

between immigration and unemployment local demand for the labor force is directed toward less

qualified, poorly paid, and highly insecure jobs, while the local labor supply is characterized by young people with a high level of education, who, in turn, decide to migrate elsewhere.

underground economy

A Californian Model of agriculture?Intensification of agricultureimmigrant labor force (flexible, redundant,

and willing to accept low salaries ) as structural need for the development of the agricultural sectorCycles of ethnic substitution

racism as an “ideological justification” for the violence of agrarian social relationships (Berlan 2008):“artificial barriers” corresponding to

“administrative barriers” have been created to the purpose of limiting the mobility of workers, and assuring their under-utilization and existence in a reserve army of labour for the needs of intensive agriculture.

A Mediterranean model of agricultureagricultural trade liberalization

direct competition from the imports from Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPCs) which have signed free trade agreements with the EU

there are 35 EU regions in which fruits and vegetables (in addition to olives) represent more than 45% of the gross added value of the regional agricultural sector and these regions are localized essentially in Southern Europe

income difficulties faced by the agricultural areas specialized in fruit and vegetables (F&V), in Italy and Spain lagged response of supply when assets are specific and lack

flexibility (permanent crops, small farms)overproduction

Growing relevance of the negotiation capability of modern distribution

MPCsdecrease of the total area of cultivated land

in corn more intensive large-scale agriculture decreased soil qualityundernourished peoplefood import-dependent regions

HypothesisTransition in agriculture Imperial networksRacializzation of Labor flexibility and

violencetransformations of rural areas pivoting on these

new inhabitants and reordering of social relations on ethnic and racial basis, as a consequence of the forms of regulation concerning migrations movements and of economic and agriculture transition

Crisis block of turn over or return to agriculture

Immigrants in Southern Agriculture1) mostly irregular immigrants or asylum

seekers waiting for permits; 2) rejected immigrants or immigrants with

expired residence permits – as a consequence of the crisis of the international asylum system;

3) refugees and legal immigrants doing seasonal work during their holidays or more recently dismissed by the industries of the north following the economic crisis;

4) seasonal or temporary migrants.

Migration dynamics in Southern Italy and Spain

transit migration, before moving in the center- North of the country or abroad,

shift migration, from the Northern regions or cities

transhumant migration across the various regions of the south of Italy and Spain according to seasonal harvests and thus to employment opportunities in the agricultural sector.

circular migration from and to the origin country

long-staying migration settlement

Harvests in Southern Italy

Plain of Sybaris

Plain of Rosarno_Gioia Tuaro

Harvests in Southern Spain

Migration Pull factorscheaper primary goods and housing, job opportunities in agriculture or

underground economy, less controls (in the case of overstaying after

their visa have expired – as an effect of the security norms; in the case of irregular entry or rejected asylum seekers)

The rural ghettosServices

ALMERIA* South ITALIA**

Drinkable Water

68% 36%

Electricity 71% 31%Heating 1% 8%Kitchen 75% 40%Toilets 72% 38%*J. C. Checa Olmos, M. A. Arjona Garrido (2006)

** Medici Senza Frontiere (2008)

Almeria Boreano

Almeria The widest and most

productive horticultural district in Europe

30.000 he of continuous cycles greenhouses systems (invernaderos)de-seasoning

>1,7 miliardi € per year From emigration abroad

to immigration Maghrebin and Estern European

Small-medium properties (3,5 he medium size)

Public/Private Research-Production connections

technologization and standardization of production

New entrepreneurs Global distribution

networks

The Sybaris Plain

• Citrus fruit production• Small-medium farms• Cooperatives • Criminal organization• From emigration abroad to

immigration Maghrebins and Eastern European

• Growing competition from Spain and Morocco

• New Eastern European markets

• Commercial brokers and big Retailers pressures

• permanent crops and monocolture

• Innovation shutdown• Supply disorganization

Agriculture DependenceDistributionTechnologyFinance

Growing competitionincome difficultiesSocial conflictsFood insecurity

Which future for Southern European agriculture?Restructuringdeactivation

Which models of inclusion or multiculrural reorganization?

Which social, economic and environmental effects for MPCs?