Migration Governance and Perceptions of Public Attitudes in Tuscany

This chapter explains how and why the Tuscany region produced a highly efficient reception system for asylum-seekers throughout the ‘asylum crisis’. This was largely a result of a proactive policymaking approach adopted by Tuscan subnational authorities, which actively coordinated the asylum governance network. Such approach was influenced by centre-left policymakers’ perceptions that Tuscans were largely neutral versus asylum-seeker’ reception; by established repertoires of action and the idea (heritage of Tuscany’s leftist political subculturepolitical subculture) that proactive policy approaches have a tendency to generate effective outcomes and foster political consensus; and by centre-left policymakers’ close contacts with local associations. The second part of the chapter examines decision-making processes and actions of policymakers affiliated to populist parties, the M5SM5S and the LegaLega.