Migrant Labor Struggles in Italian Agriculture

In the last few years, organizing efforts have multiplied around migrant labor in Italian agriculture. Combining militant investigation and participation in struggles and strikes, activist scholars have addressed such crucial questions as the living conditions of migrants in “ghettos” and labour camps, the transnational composition of the labor force, working conditions in the fields, and the intertwining of global commodity and care chains. On January 22, we will talk with Irene Peano, who has long been engaged in these organizing efforts and militant investigations.

Irene is currently a post-doctoral researcher at the Institute of Social Sciences, University of Lisbon, where she works within a project titled “The colour of labour: The racialised lives of migrants,” led by Cristiana Bastos. She previously worked at the Universities of Bologna and Bucharest, and got her PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Cambridge. Her work is concerned with migrant labour (particularly sex and farm work, and their intersections), its organization and forms of resistance, and in relation to their multiple genealogies. She is a member of the militant network Campagne in Lotta.

Tue. 1/21, 12-1pm – “mapping” session – discussion of preparatory readings –“Emergenc(i)es in the fields: Affective composition and counter-camps against the exploitation of migrant farm labour in Italy” – https://sites.fhi.duke.edu/socialmovementslab/files/2020/01/Peano-Emergencies-1.pdf

We’ll have free lunch for participants on both days.

Location: Social Movements Lab, Smith Warehouse, Bay 5 – 114 S. Buchanan Blvd.

For Parking and Accessibility info, see: https://fhi.duke.edu/contact-us Event Contact: Eli Meyerhoff – eli.meyerhoff@duke.eduPlease join us and share this invitation with anyone who might be interested.