Reimagining Belonging in Europe: Young People with a Migrant Background between Citizenship, Memory and Democratic Participation

The article examines the role of younger generations with a migrant background in redefining the concepts of citizenship, belonging, and European identity. Drawing on sociological and postcolonial perspectives, it challenges the idea of Europe as a culturally homogeneous space, highlighting how cultural plurality has historically been a defining feature of European societies. Following an overview of demographic trends and legislative frameworks at the European level, the article focuses on the Italian context, exploring the different forms of social, political, and cultural activism developed by younger generations with a migrant background. In particular, it examines campaigns advocating for the reform of citizenship legislation and analyses a wide range of cultural productions, including literary works, graphic novels, documentaries, and podcasts, through which young writers, artists, and activists challenge stereotypes, recover marginalised historical memories, and propose alternative narratives of Italian and European identity. Particular attention is devoted to the role of language and public representations, focusing on debates surrounding the use of controversial terms in the Italian context, such as “race”, and the importance of recognising and naming processes of racialisation and discrimination. The article highlights how these practices constitute forms of democratic participation through which younger generations not only claim recognition of their belonging but also contribute to reimagining Europe as a plural, intercultural, and inclusive political and social project.