Courtesy Gaia van der Esch
Elections Under Pressure
a welfare system that would support me in moments of difficulty, I would be happy to welcome migrants myself. After all, Italy has always been a crossroad of migration. But I am scared that today we can’t afford it, and we should prioritize helping people like me that feel already left behind,” he added. Rapid societal changes are shaping our social ties, the bases of unity and trust among citizens, and
“The divide relates to the socioeconomic gap, to the worry of being left behind, which unaddressed, transforms into fear.” accumulating anger instead of fighting together for our country.”
creating a perceived conflict of values. By speaking
Isolation, coupled with the lack of a modern Italian
to people like Enzo, I found that this divide—which
identity, leaves people to cling to certainties, which
occupies today’s TV and newspaper headlines—is
are often illusions. Be it the liberals with their moral
not rooted in deep political or ideological values
high ground or conservatives with their symbols from
or to specific “hot” topics, such as migration. The
the past. Many people told me this is why today they
divide relates to the socioeconomic gap, to the worry
feel closer to the right than the left wing. “It’s more
of being left behind, which unaddressed, transforms
rooted, it brings us back to our traditions and to the
into fear. This is how the vicious cycle of fear and
times when we were doing better.”
division is ignited.
This mix of fear and social isolation led me to
Veronica Di Leonardo, the cheerful owner of
think that throughout my trip I would find an upset
a small bar in the main square of my home village
country, unwilling to respond to my questions. Instead,
of Anguillara, put it this way: “We are angry with
every person I asked to interview—in bars, beaches,
everybody and no one. We are losing social ties by
trains, fishing boats, and mountain refuges—opened
Volume XX
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