A profound examination of modern citizenship reveals a stark contradiction between legal definitions and lived reality, particularly for marginalized communities seeking refuge and integration. While citizenship is traditionally defined as the relationship between an individual and the state—conferring full civil and political rights through a legal status known as civitatis—true citizenship in practice remains elusive for millions of people worldwide.
The concept of genuine citizenship, as Marco Lugli observes, essentially does not exist in its ideal form, despite examples of exclusion and marginalization visible everywhere in contemporary society. An abandoned dairy building from the early 1900s, now in a state of decay, serves as a powerful symbol of a society that only superficially appears to welcome, accept, and integrate newcomers and vulnerable populations.
This deteriorating structure represents the broader failure of modern communities to fulfill their promises of inclusion and dignity. Old ideologies rooted in fear and prejudice continue to resurface in present times, effectively destroying the dreams and aspirations of millions of people who emigrate from their homelands in search of better opportunities and improved living conditions. These individuals often encounter societies that fail to welcome them with the dignity, humanity, and respect they deserve.
Since the 1990s, various marginalized groups have sought refuge in places like the abandoned dairy, and their presence continues to bear witness to the deep-seated social discomfort and systemic failures of integration. The traces of their lives in these spaces reflect the profound difficulties faced by those who exist on society's margins, forced into a constant struggle for basic survival that often pits them against one another rather than addressing the root causes of their displacement and exclusion.
