The comune versus the state : the Riace model and the contours of migration policy conflict

Abstract

When the mayor of a small village is charged, placed under house arrest, and banned from entering, it may come across as punitive action for maladministration. But this is no ordinary account of a politician caught in abuse of public office. In this Paper, I shed light on the Riace Model, an experience of a little comune in southern Italy, its mayor, and the ensuing tension between central and local government on inward migration. The study is informed by two main driving issues: (1) the collision between the mayor’s vision for the village and the national political line (intergovernmental relations); and the nuanced approach towards migratory settlement (contrasting visions of policy implementation). Whilst it has been recognized internationally, the Riace Model is now challenged by a resenting political establishment, a displaced mayor (the thinker behind it), and an apprehensive community, unclear and unsure about its future. By examining its empirical development, and engaging with contemporary theories of governance and migration, I argue that the Riace Model is a precursor to similar phenomena that are likely to occur in countries where similar tension between centrallocal politics exists. Whilst the state has the power to cause the model to flounder, it cannot extinguish the recognition and appreciation of the international community.