Identity and Ingroup/Outgroup Relathionsips

Sicilian cultural context is characterized by a millenary history of multicultural relationships, which profoundly affected the life of the island and its population. Since some decades, Sicily is an important destination for immigrants who hope to find here useful conditions to improve the quality of their life. Specifically, in the South-Eastern part of the island the largest immigrant group is composed by people from Maghreb who work in farms (especially greenhouses). The coexistence of people with different cultural backgrounds arises the question related to the quality of their relationships. The present study was carried out to explore the representational framework expressed by a sample of immigrants from Maghreb living in the South-Eastern Sicily about the Ingroup/Outgroup relationships and the ‘place’ where they are settled. Rating Scales and Semantic Differentials were used. Data showed complex and nonlinear attitudes toward ingroup, ingroup/outgroup relationships and the Institutions. The need to realize integration projects is significant