"L'Italia nuova" di Silvio Lanaro

• Published in: Meridiana 1988-05 (3), p.199-227
• Main Authors: Rosa, Alberto Asor, Bagnasco, Arnaldo, Barone, Giuseppe, Fano, Ester, Lanaro, Silvio
• Format: Article
• Language: Italian
• Subjects: CONFRONTI
• ISSN: 0394-4115; 1973-2244

A cultural historian (Asor Rosa), a sociologist (Bagnasco), and two economic historians (Barone and Fano) consider the book just published by S. Lanaro, in order to point out — each from his own preferred point of view — the limits and suggestions of this work dedicated to the examination of the distinctive characteristics which have marked post-unification history and continue to distinguish the Italian world. Asor Rosa would have found the essay more justified if it had been limited to the study of changes in customs (an argument on which he has written brilliant pages); whilst Bagnasco suggests that the absence of a strong Nation-State identity (the polycentric nature of Italy) has, in the end, probably constituted an element of strength rather than weakness in the national history of the last few decades. Thus, Barone has noted how many of the aspects lamented by Lanaro as weaknesses typical of 19th and 20th century Italy (eg. the lack of an organising centre of public life) are, in fact, common to other European countries; whilst E. Fano has added some critical observations in her contribution on the way in which the author has interpreted the experience of Fascism in Italy. A brilliant answer of the author of the book closes the discussion.