The Political Weaponization of the Maranza Label in Italy
How a youth subculture label is being exploited for political narratives and social division.
1The Rise of Maranza
The term maranza, originally used to describe neighborhood bullies, has become a central political tool in Northern Italy. While historically linked to youth subcultures and specific fashion choices, it is now being used by right-wing politicians to categorize second-generation immigrants as inherently criminal, despite evidence showing diverse ethnic participation in recent unrest.
2Student Protests in Milan
On October 16, thousands of students protested in Milan against government school policies, specifically a 30 percent cap on foreign students per class. Their demands included better school infrastructure, affordable housing, and increased education funding. These legitimate grievances were quickly overshadowed by subsequent events involving vandalism and looting in the city center.
3Distortion of Reality
Following viral videos of vandalism on October 17, approximately two thousand youths gathered on October 18, leading to 271 detentions. Official police data reveals that only 60 of those detained lacked Italian citizenship. Despite this, the political narrative focused exclusively on the maranza label, ignoring the involvement of many Italian-born youths in the riots.
4Colonial Roots of Classification
Anthropologist Abdelmajid Hannoum argues that colonial translations of Ibn Khaldun’s work transformed fluid social concepts into rigid racial categories. This historical distortion, which pitted groups against each other, continues to influence modern perceptions. Today, digital algorithms replicate these colonial-era biases, reinforcing harmful stereotypes that simplify complex social identities into dangerous, politically charged labels.
5Political Exploitation
Right-wing parties in Italy have capitalized on the unrest to push for stricter policies. During a rally near the Duomo, politicians displayed banners calling for remigration and exemplary punishment for criminals. This rhetoric aims to mobilize voters ahead of upcoming spring elections by framing youth violence as a direct consequence of immigration.
6Government Legislative Response
In response to the youth unrest, the Italian government approved a decree targeting juvenile delinquency. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni summarized the policy with the phrase, 'If you break it, you pay for it,' holding parents financially responsible for the actions of their minor children. This measure reflects a broader shift toward punitive governance.
7Panic and Misinformation
The political climate triggered widespread panic in cities like Lecco, where false rumors of imminent riots led to school closures and empty streets. Despite official appeals to ignore these fabrications, the fear generated by the maranza narrative proved powerful enough to disrupt daily life, demonstrating the effectiveness of fear-based political communication strategies.
8Historical Parallels
The reduction of youth to derogatory labels is not unique to Italy. In the 1960s, Italian workers in Germany and Switzerland faced similar dehumanizing slurs, such as Itaker or Tschinggen. These historical examples illustrate how societies often use derogatory language to marginalize migrant groups and justify exclusionary policies during times of economic or social stress.
9The Challenge of Colonizability
Algerian philosopher Malek Bennabi warned of colonizability, the tendency to accept the colonizer’s definitions of oneself. Today, this manifests through the digital age, where individuals internalize algorithmic labels. By adopting these externally imposed categories, society risks repeating cycles of extremism and violence that stem from the initial act of naming and classifying others.
10Institutional Responsibility
European nations must confront the lingering effects of their colonial past, which remain embedded in modern immigration crises. Changing the names of museums is insufficient; governments must acknowledge the direct link between historical colonial policies and current social tensions, including the selective treatment of migrant labor and the use of visas as political leverage.
11Listening to Youth
The core demands of the Milanese students—safe schools, affordable housing, and equal rights—remain clear and relevant to all young people. By focusing on the maranza label, political discourse ignores the systemic issues facing an entire generation. True progress requires moving beyond divisive rhetoric to address the actual needs of the youth.
Original article: Internazionale — The Political Weaponization of the Maranza Label in Italy