THE MOBILE BORDERS OF EUROPE

The idea of mobile borders comes from the following assumption: besides political borders or even physical borders, which form the identity of a population, there exist forms of “substantial moves” due to migration. For example, after Italy was united a substantial percentage of the population immigrated to the American continents; this phenomenon broadened the Italian borders in the new world, culturally, socially and economically. In the homeland, on the other hand, besides the economic benefits (the importance of the money sent back home ) migration caused long-term effects in international politics (the choice in favour of the Atlantic Alliance, for example). Not more than one hundred years have gone by and the same borders now coincide, in a dynamic logic of Europe-Mediterranean, with the new frontier south and east of the old continent, with consequences, which have still to be defined. The idea of mobile borders becomes legitimate not only because of fluctuations set by recent migration but also for at least two other macro phenomena: the first is constituted by revolutions that made geo-political borders flexible, overcoming them with the impetuosity of ideas; the second, by the supremacy of science over nationality.

Dino Renato Nardelli

Giovanni Codovini

DIDACTIC MODULE

The mobile borders of Europe. 1875-1975

The following module is divided into three didactic units

I D.U.

The

Geopolitics of the Revolutions

1848-1917

II D.U.

The migrations.

1875-1975

III D.U.

« Clerici Vagantes »

1980-2000

At the end of the didactic unit it would be a good idea to insert a “local” case, pertinent to one of the decided periods based on the attached map.

Comment . Reasons for Choice.

The three didactic units outline a geographic-historic approach so that the “paradigm Europe” falls into the logic of space before that of time.

In the first didactic unit one must keep in mindthe ideal red thread that orginated in modern European politics, the second deals with the unhinging of space, the third instead points towards science as a factor that opens the borders of the nations but that gave rise to Western Europe.

We will develop the II didactic unit as a basis for a laboratory aimed at sharing didactic language and models. “The Migrations. 1875-1975 leaving the other two didactic units as background material.

N.B. As established at the NEOS meeting in Warsaw, the proposal is to cover the II D.U.

D.U. II Migration 1875 - 1975

I^° SEQUENCE

The context of the 19th century: A Long term phenomenon

Map 1: The directions of European Emigration in the world (19^th century.)

Map worksheet:

* Statistics from your area. Indicate the numerical quantity of people departing for each single destination.

_____________________________________________

Map 2: A panorama of the European industrial areas (1875)

Map worksheet:

Observe the map and answer the following questions:

* Is there a “Europe” beyond the individual nations?

* Does Europe in the 19th century have within its borders areas of emigration which are also industrial areas?

* Are these areas within today’s state borders? What kind of emigration do they attract?

* What kind of a relationship exists between European transatlantic migration and internal mobility?

Comment. Reasons for Choice

The didactic and historic objective is to demonstrate how mobility within European territory goes beyond the borders of the individual states. Europe is also a product of mobility and of social-economic mechanisms which originate from a logic which is different to that of political

II^° SEQUENCE

Migration in the 20th century.

Time Frame 1944-1952

FACTORS OF EXPULSION

Historic document 1: Klaus J. Badie, Europe in Movement, Migration from the 18th century to today, Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2001, pp. 342-353

Task on document:

After having analysed the text, list the expulsion factors that determined the fracture of 1944 –1952.

The Fracture 1944-1952

Expulsion Factors

Comment

Map 3: Movement of people in Europe between 1944 and 1952

Map worksheet

By observing the map, the directions, the quantity, and the protagonists of the movement of people, emerge in the period given.

a) Narrate the information pertaining to your region.

b) Fill out the task sheet below describing the expulsion factors for your region, referring to local sources and/or historic sources (cite your sources).

DESCRIPTION TASK SHEET

Comment. Reasons for Choice

The document proposed is of European inquiry and regional fields finally relate to one another (the overcoming of local history). Map 3 joins two kinds of problems which deserve to be disentangled: movement due to repositioning of population tied to war and the new emigration tied to an economic trend.

III^° SEQUENCE

The Flow of Migration in the 20th century.

Time Frame 1944-1952

Attraction Factors

Historical Document 1: Klaus J. Badie, Europe in movement. Migration from the 18th century to today, Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2001, Pg. 342-353

Task on document:

After having analysed the text, list the factors of attraction that determined the fracture of 1944-1952.

The Fracture 1944-1952

Factors of Attraction

Comment

Map 3: Movement of people in Europe between 1944 and 1952.

Map worksheet:

By observing the map, the directions, the number and the protagonists of the movement of people, can be found.

a) Narrate the information pertaining to your region.

Fill out the task sheet below describing the factors of attraction for your region, referring to local sources and/or historic sources (cite your sources).

DESCRIPTION TASK SHEET

Comment. Reasons for choice.

The didactic task acts on two levels: one focuses on history and the other on the contribution to research on the part of a local observer. The latter is a good way to raise to new hypothesis to develop in the classroom.

IV^° SEQUENCE

The flow of migration in the 20th century.

Time Frame 1973-1974

The New Migration: Change and Continuity

Historical Document 2: Saskia Sassen, Migration, Colonies, Refugees. From Mass Emigration to the fortress of Europe, Feltrinelli, Milano, 1999, pgs.95-101.

Task on Document:

After having analysed the text, list the states of origin of the immigrants from your area during the period 1954 – 1973.

WORKSHEET FOR RELEVANT DATA

Map 4: Using the map, graphically show the information you gathered from

Document 2

Reasons for Choice.

The Dutch historian states that migration movements are not caused by the desire to improve one’s living conditions. Besides the modification of the work market on a global scale, the migration process is very selective since the protagonists are only specific groups and they are strictly connected to the relation between the country of departure and the country of arrival. The fracture at the beginning of the seventies, due to the energy crisis, was fundamental in the outline of phenomena in global economy.

U.D.II La Lunga durata: il contesto nel XIX secolo

Atlante delle carte storiche SEI (carta n°1)

U.D.II La Lunga durata: il contesto nel XIX secolo

Atlante delle carte storiche SEI (carta n°2)

U.D.II La Lunga durata: il contesto nel XIX secolo

Atlante delle carte storiche SEI (carta n°3)

Information collected during the Euroseminar

COUNTRY

DESTINATION

PUSH FACTORS

PULL FACTORS

NOTES/COMMENTS

Finland

From Karelia to the rest of Finland (300.000)

Political:

v War with Russia

v Loss of Karelia to Russia

Cultural:

v Finland as homeland

Migration within

France

From Italy to France

Economic:

v Poor living conditions

Economic:

v Reconstruction after W.W. II: acute shortage of labour force

Migration outside

England

British Colonies, South Africa, USA

Social:

v Difficult conditions after the war (rationing, lack of housing)

Economic:

v Skills not valued highly enough

Climate

Prospect of a better life

Higher wages

Migration outside

Europe

Cultural:

v Introduction to different lifestyles(experencied during the war)

Germany

From the Ruhr to rural parts of Germany

Political:

v War (bombing)

Political

v Free from war dangers

1944-1945. Migration within (evacuation)

Germany (Ruhr)

From Germany to North and Latin America

Economic:

v Bad living conditions after the war

Economic:

v Economic chance in America

Migration outside 1945-1952

Germany (Ruhr)

From other parts of Germany to the Ruhr

Economic:

v Lack of employment

Economic:

v High wages in mining and steel industry during reconstruction period

Migration within 1945-1952

Germany (Ruhr)

From Soviet Occupation Zone (later German Democratic Republic) to West Germany

Political:

v Refugees from Stalinist system

Economic:

v Low standard of living

Political:

v Democratic system in West

Economic:

v Higher standard of living because of faster development

Migration within 1945-1952

Germany (Ruhr)

From Poland, Czechoslovakia and eastern provinces of the German Reich

Political:

v Expulsion of German population at the end of the war

Political:

v People flee to the rest of Germany

Migration outside/within 1945-1952

Italy (Umbria)

Within Umbria to Perugia 50%

Economic:

v Poor living conditions of rural zones (sharecropper, day labourer)

Economic:

v Seeking employment in areas of : mining, construction, service industries

Migration within/outside 1944-1952

Italy (Umbria)

From Umbria to Rome (50%)

Economic:

v Delay in industrial development and/or difficulty in industrial restructure

Migration within/outside 1944-1952

Italy (Umbria)

From Umbria to France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland

(20%)

Social:

v Joining of families

Social:

v Reuniting of Family

Migration outside

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