This pilot study explores how educated Sicilians (aged 23–33) perceive their region’s socio-economic development, express resilience, and position themselves regarding social and political change. Set within the broader context of Southern Italy’s persistent marginalization, the research addresses how regional identity, justice beliefs, and intergenerational value transmission shape individual perspectives. Through eight semi-structured interviews, this pilot phase of a larger mixed-methods research employs thematic analysis to uncover how participants navigate the tension between attachment to Sicily and perceived systemic limitations. Findings reveal a complex emotional landscape: while participants express strong cultural and emotional bonds with Sicily, they simultaneously confront frustration, disillusionment, and limited opportunities. Justice beliefs are often marked by skepticism, with institutions viewed as opaque and nepotistic, undermining perceptions of meritocracy. Resilience is expressed both through creative adaptation—such as entrepreneurship or migration—as well as strategies of withdrawal or reduced expectations. Family influence emerges as both a stabilizing force and a source of constraint, transmitting cautious attitudes and emotional obligations that shape life choices. This study concludes that young Sicilians demonstrate a form of “situated agency,” where aspirations and critique are shaped by emotional, familial, and structural constraint. The results offer insights into how youth in peripheral regions understand justice, opportunity, and change—not as abstract ideals, but as lived contradictions. These qualitative insights will inform the design of a subsequent quantitative survey to assess broader trends and validate emerging themes.
Ruža et al. (Wed,) studied this question.