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Seganti, Francesca Romana (2007) Building the Italian diaspora online: the case of the latest generation of Italians in London and its presence on the Web. Doctoral thesis, London Metropolitan University.
"The principal aim of this investigation is to provide a more in-depth understanding of the cultural and social role of the online community hosted on the Italianialondra.com website. This online community was created in April 2003 to encourage communication among first generation Italian migrants in London. This study investigates whether online communication supports the preservation of culture and tradition and whether the virtual environment acts as a platform for the construction of a new Italian diasporic community. The study is based on a qualitative methodology. Analysing identity patterns developed by this specific Web audience online, it investigates the dynamics of online interaction and the benefits that these Italians derive from new media. The purpose is to position these new migrants, through examination of their profiles, within the contemporary migration trends. The study considers the effects of mobility on identity processes. Particular attention is paid to the offline social dynamics in which the group under study is involved, addressing integration issues and analysing the participants' background stories in order to understand the developments of the virtual community. Analysis of the in-depth interviews shows that through the virtual community, a new hybrid identity is formed as a result of innovation and change. Cyberspace proves to be particularly suitable for the reshaping of identity because it facilitates socialization beyond territorial community. The Italianialondra.com virtual community emerges as the channel of communication that Italians in London were missing: as the tool that, by replacing the traditional community spaces ('real square' versus 'virtual square'), enables the redevelopment of a sense of community that had been lost. It facilitates integration processes and the creation of projects that have positive repercussions on its members' everyday lives."--Abstract
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