Italian migrants in Germany. A statistical overview and a research bibliographical note

This introduction to the dossier on Italians in Germany gives a statistical overview of migration flows between Italy and Germany and offers a brief survey of scholarly research on the topic. More than 600,000 Italians live today in Germany. The formation of this community is described and its socio-demographic and socio-economic structure is discussed. The changing characteristics of the migration flows between Italy and Germany are emphasised. Recent years saw, especially in Germany, a renewed academic interest in the phenomenon of Italian-German migration and the integration of Italians. The integration in the German school system continues to be one of the most often discussed problems. Where data are available, they show consistently a still problematic situation of the Italian community, compared to other traditional immigrant groups. These findings contrast with the positive image of Italians and their integration in German society. Recent exhibitions and the efforts to establish a German museum on migration are an indication that the period of traditional (Italian) "guest worker" migration is coming to an end. The Italian community in Germany will continue to be characterised by this traditional migration process, but new, more modern, elements will increasingly play a role.