"This brief paper identifies the most important moments and the most significant studies of Italian historiography on emigration. These range from the first formulation of economic and national models of the Italian exodus to their subsequent fragmentation into a mosaic of regional and local historical and anthropological studies. Ultimately, this will allow a much needed conceptual synthesis, aiming at new comparative research objectives, and a less specialized and sectorial analysis of emigration. Such an approach would also help us to tackle the migrational phenomena in contemporary society with a greater historical awareness and with more adequate cultural comprehension." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND ITA AND SPA)