La migrazione come processo familiare

In the last 25 years, the family has been imposed as a crucial actor for the understanding of migratory strategies and behaviours, the study of the integration into the host society, the analysis of the impact of migrations for the sending and receiving countries and, last but not least, the evaluation of migratory policies and practices. This essay, introducing the other articles composing the present review, starts by focusing the attention on the theoretical prospects that put specific emphasis on family; then develops some considerations about the advantages and disadvantages of the family migration for both the sending and the receiving countries, identifying some “ideological traps” that frequently influence the research on these issues; devotes a specific analysis to the reuniting families issue, describing how this right is ruled by the European legislation; finally, it analysis the impact of family migration on the contemporary Italian society.