Transformation of the ethnic consciousness of the Italian Basso dynasty in Bessarabia: case study

In: Revista de etnologie și culturologie: Journal of ethnology and culturology = Žurnal ėtnologii i kulʹturologii, Band 32, S. 57-66

Abstract

This article has attempted, using the example of one Italian dynasty that settled in Bessarabia, to show the transformation of the ethnic consciousness of its descendants. In the second half of the 19th century, the emigration of Italians to Bessarabia was not as active as it was in Romania, for example, or in the Crimea. Nevertheless, Italian citizens who decided to emigrate to Bessarabia in search of a better life, and in our case, this is about the Basso family, stayed here forever, linking their lives with this region. Even if they were not deported, as, for example, the Italians of the Crimea, social upheavals, two world wars could not but affect their destinies, ethnic and religious identity. Many of Basso's descendants continue to keep in touch with their Italian relatives. Periodically, scholars, journalists, entrepreneurs come from Italy to meet with the Moldavian descendants of Basso within the framework of the ethno-cultural Italian community. Today, many of Basso's descendants have not retained their Italian citizenship, registering themselves as Romanians, Moldavians, Ukrainians, Russians. However, there are exceptions, when several descendants of Basso managed to regain Italian citizenship, move to the historical homeland of their ancestors and integrate into the modern Italian community