Specials

The so called Italian "diaspora" abroad can be considered an " accomplished history" mainly due to the associationism which can express individual events in a choral human experience.

It is a commitment, based on voluntary service, that assumed in the past - as in modern times - a political importance or, for better saying, a “political” representation of communities in Italian institutions in Italy and abroad. In many cases it also covered a genuine role of front office abroad that could bridge the gap between the expectations created by politicians and the obvious deficiencies of the 'public action’.

Yet, despite all the merits we recognize to it, there is now a need for a general transformation of associationism. It needs to adapt to the new necessities of modern times. However, many associations are already doing so,  passing on the baton to the new generations abroad.

The pluri-focused reflection that CGIE has coordinated, in recent months, in collaboration with representatives of associationism and regional councils, within a specific working group, has allowed a useful analysis of structural, cultural and political current needs. This has become a commitment that has opened up new opportunities and revealed interesting cases to which we must refer, with particular attention to innovations introduced by the younger generations of Italians living abroad, often together with people of the same age but of different nationalities.

Common identity values do not represent anymore, in fact, a sufficient element for the existence of many associations. In the light of new demands, they have become a point of reference for a network that mixes common national references with important experiences and values locally gained.

Today, we must therefore reinterpret the spirit that inspired the creation and existence itself of Italian associationism abroad: it is not a place of memory but is a mean of the "contemporaneity of our communities across the borders".

The associationism is the "diamond point" of a system of values to which our Country abroad refers. This country is made up of "communities" composed by individual elements rich of experiences, capable of self-supporting the association's goals in the institutional dialogue, overcome the dimensional handicap that has characterized it, through the use of innovative managerial resources- peculiar to young generations- and a wider focus on their own interests.

Today more than ever, in this difficult historical moment, the role of associationism in defending  the values and rights of the individual as well as the communities, in Italy or abroad, rises to an important new dimension: the renewed “social responsibility". I am sure that on the occasion of the next World Conference of Young Italians and of people of Italian origin abroad, the youth will be able to understand the meaning and the importance of this patrimony of human and social knowledge that has been handed to them so that they wil transfer it to the world of today.

* This text is the abstract of the paper presented by Dr. Elio Carozza to the conference "Memories of the Future" (Palermo, 28-29 November 2008)