The impact of right-wing populist policies on Muslim immigrants in Italy: Integration problems and resistance mechanisms

This article examines how the discourse of Italy’s right-wing populist government affects the integration of Muslim immigrants. Right-wing populist politics portray Muslim immigrants as a threat to social cohesion, using securitization discourse rooted in Christian nationalism. However, this study shows that the impact of right-wing populist discourse varies among Muslim immigrants and does not necessarily hinder integration. Based on semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 50 Muslim immigrants living in northern Italy in 2024, the study analyzes the religious, social, bureaucratic, and economic obstacles Muslim immigrants face during the integration process. The results show that integration issues arise not only from religious identity but also from language barriers, bureaucratic hurdles, and discrimination in the labour market. In summary, while right-wing populist policies make integration more difficult, individuals develop resistance mechanisms against these discourses. However, this does not mean that Muslim immigrants in Italy have become agents of change in discourse or structure.