Abstract ID: 3.9546 | Not reviewed | Requested as: Talk | TBA | TBA

The Susa Valley, a historically significant transit corridor in the Western Alps, has become a key site for migration dynamics in rural and mountainous Europe. While much attention has been given to border enforcement and humanitarian responses, less is known about the long-term integration of migrants into the valley’s socio-political fabric. This paper explores the challenges and opportunities for migrant inclusion in local governance and community life, analyzing how grassroots initiatives, institutional responses, and translocal networks shape political participation and social cohesion. Based on qualitative fieldwork, the research highlights both structural barriers—such as limited access to formal political channels and socio-economic precarity—and the agency of migrants in forging alternative forms of civic engagement. By situating the Susa Valley within broader debates on migration in peripheral regions, this study offers insights into how rural and mountainous areas can move beyond narratives of crisis toward more inclusive governance models.