MIGRATORY NETWORKS OF ITALIANS IN CEARÁ

Abstract

In the globalization scenario, international migration intertwines the Brazilian territory. Among the migrant groups, there are subjects of Italian origin with the profile of investors. Thus, the objective of this paper is to explain how the networks allow the existence of territorialities, permanencies and the configuration of an urban economy of migration of Italian investors in the state of Ceará, Brazil. For this, the research methodology consists of the selection of concepts and themes that guide the analysis; survey of secondary data and journalistic information, as well as fieldwork (landscape observation and interviews). With the accomplishment of the research, it was possible to verify that: (i) Italian migrants with an investor profile have a trajectory of international migration in Latin American countries, as well as to some Brazilian states. When they arrive in Ceará, they make small and medium investments (in terms of volume of capital invested); (ii) the investments are linked to Tourism (hotel, lodging and recreation); Gastronomy (restaurants) and Land incorporation; (iii) the choice to reside and invest in Ceará is due to the configuration of migratory networks, which articulate subjects, usually from the same territorial origin; (iv) the territorial origin is considered a key variable for the articulation of economic and social cooperation actions, as well as the construction of territorialities and possible permanence in the territory of migration. With the analysis of the results, it was possible to affirm that in the current period there is the configuration of a new Geography of international migration in Brazil, in which the Northeast region acts as a central node of migratory movements and networks.

Keywords: Italian migration. Networks. Territorialities.