The Concept of Totalitarianism in Italian Political Discourse: A Particular History (1923-1994)

Authors

  • Andrea Donofrio
  • Juan Francisco Fuentes

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18042/cepc/rep.171.01

Keywords:

Totalitarianism, Cold War, fascism, communism, nazism.

Abstract

This article studies the evolution of the concept of totalitarianism in Italy from
its appearance in 1923. From that moment on, the concept went over different historical periods marked by the national as well as the international context, mainly
related to fascism until 1945 and after with the cold war and its changing intensity.
It is surprising that Italy stayed in general so far from the so called «totalitarian paradigm », i.e., the leading uses and meanings in the Western world, particularly during the Cold War. The article shows the relative uniqueness of the concept in the Italian political discourse throughout its historical evolution and the keys that explain this «particular history».

Published

2016-03-31

Issue

Section

ARTICLES