Racial Theories in Fascist Italy: 5 (Routledge Studies in Modern European History) - Hardcover

Gillette, Aaron

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 041525292X ISBN 13: 9780415252928

Publisher: Routledge, 2001

Synopsis

Racial Theories in Fascist Italy examines the role played by race and racism in the development of Italian identity during the fascist period. The book examines the struggle between Mussolini, the fascist hierarchy, scientists and others in formulating a racial persona that would gain wide acceptance in Italy.
This book will be of interest to historians, political scientists concerned with the development of fascism and scholars of race and racism.

About this title

Review:

"Provides a new and extremely detailed exposition of the changing, and often competing, racial theories that were elaborated by Italian scientists." -American Historical Review "Aaron Gillette displays an impressive command of the holdings of the massive Archivio Centrale dello Stato, as well as mastery of a large body of racist literature directly produced or sponsored by the regime. His account is nuanced, rich in detail, and attentive to shifts in the relative weight between Nordicists and Mediterraneanists." -"Political Science Quarterly

Synopsis:

Racial Theories in Fascist Italy examines the role played by race and racism in the development of Italian identity during the fascist period. The book examines the struggle between Mussolini, the fascist hierarchy, scientists and others in formulating a racial persona that would gain wide acceptance in Italy. Aaron Gillette seeks to explain Mussolini's decision to add racism and racial theory to fascist ideology. He finds that the Duce settled on racism in a final effort to galvanize Italian nationalism and unity behind a fascist movement in decline. He also examines the insurmountable difficulties faced by this nationalism because of complex Italian regional differences. Were the Italians an 'Aryan' people as were the Germans to the North? Or were they a Mediterranean people, whose proud classical heritage made them natural enemies of the northern 'Goths'? This is the first book to examine in detail the debates over racial theory in Fascist Italy between the academic and scientific communities, and among the fascist leadership itself.

Gillette analyzes the shifting official policies on race that resulted from the influence of Nazi Germany, prominent fascists and scientists and Mussolini himself on racist theory. Rather than unifying the Italian people, the addition of a racial identity to fascism had the opposite effect. Racial Theories in Fascist Italy will be of interest to historians, to political scientists concerned with the development of fascism and scholars of race and racism.

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 041525292X
• ISBN 13: 9780415252928
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256