Italian Politics: Italy Experimental Ground

De history of Italy: we know most in our country about the Renaissance and antiquity. But what do we know about the Risorgimento? Who are Mazzini, Garibaldi, Farini, d'Azeglio: all those names you see on Italian street signs? What do we know about WWI and WWII in Italy, the 'years of lead' or the Berlusconi period? Berlusconi is still reasonably in sight, but then the image of the paljas predominates. But why did Italians vote for him? It is all clearly explained in Proeftuin Italy, a new book by two historians from the University of Utrecht, Corduwener and Weststeijn. 

Italian history in Italy

It is not easy to get a grip on Italian history as an outsider. In Italy everyone is a historian, philosopher and literary scholar. The cultural education of its citizens has been well arranged by the Italian state. The classics are taught at school and even if you study law or want to become a plumber you will The divine Comedy of Dante should study.

In the Italian bookstore you will find all the classics on display. Because of this schooling and a penchant for culture, history is popular in the Laars. Certain historians and historical subjects are widely read. Marco Travaglio, Bruno Vespa, mythology. If you ask any Italian about Italian history, he will have an opinion about it. However, it is often anecdotal. What is often missing is the big story. A foreigner can no longer see the forest for the trees.

Italy as a forerunner

The book Experimental garden Italy gives us an insight into 150 years of contemporary Italian history. The history from the unification. A fine book, because there is little good literature on the subject in Dutch. This book also has a vision: according to the authors, Italy would be a forerunner in many political areas. Italy developed it fascism with Il Duce. It was the first with the post-war party consensus and the first with its breakdown and the first with the rise of populism (Berlusconi). Italy thus as a testing ground for phenomena that would be imitated elsewhere in Europe and the world.

Merits of the writers

The relationship between rulers and subjects is central to this book. How is the gap between citizens and politics closed? An interesting vision that keeps me on my toes as a reader. The writers use stories from popular culture. Films and music that colored Italian history reinforce the story. Historical figures are portrayed, using many Italian Literature.

The scientists manage to combine the Italian love for anecdotes with a scientific vision. The result is a work with some Italian flair, accessible to a wide audience and interesting in view of next month's Italian elections. I am curious what Italians think of this view of Dutch historians. I am happy with this book and I definitely recommend it to the readers of DitisItalie.nl.

Experimental garden Italy – how the most beautiful country in Europe invented modern politics
by: Pepijn Corduwener and Arthur Weststeijn
288 pages
€ 19,99 (also available as an e-book)
Prometheus, to be released on February 20, 2018
ISBN 9789035145016