Italy and emigration to Latin America: Bilateral agreements and participation in the ICEM (1946-1957)

Abstract

In this article I analyze the Italian emigration to countries of Latin America in the second postwar period through the documentation of the Ministero del Lavoro e Previdenza Sociale (MLPS), kept in the Archivio Centrale dello Stato (ACS) in Rome. “Assisted” emigration was regulated through bilateral agreements with some Latin American governments and through Italy’s participation in the ICEM (Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration). The ICEM dealt with the transportation of migrants and their selection and professional training. The MLPS was in charge of organizing the departure of the emigrants and maintained contacts with the ICEM and the countries of destination. I focus in particular on emigration to Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Venezuela and Uruguay. I try to show the aspects of continuity and / or novelty with respect to interwar emigration, both in terms of the experience of the emigrants and the attitude of the Italian, European and Latin American bureaucracy.

Keywords: Italia, emigration, Latin America, ICEM.