Mussolini's intellectuals : fascist social and political thought / A. James Gregor.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gregor, A. James (Anthony James), 1929-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Fascism--Italy--History--20th century.

Fascism.

Intellectuals--Italy--History--20th century.

Intellectuals.

Intellectuals--Italy--Political activity--History--20th century.

Italy--Intellectual life--20th century.

Italy.

Italy--Politics and government--20th century.

Physical Description:

1 online resource ([xi], 282 pages)

Edition:

Course Book

Place of Publication:

Princeton, NJ : Princeton University Press, c2005.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Fascism has traditionally been characterized as irrational and anti-intellectual, finding expression exclusively as a cluster of myths, emotions, instincts, and hatreds. This intellectual history of Italian Fascism--the product of four decades of work by one of the leading experts on the subject in the English-speaking world--provides an alternative account. A. James Gregor argues that Italian Fascism may have been a flawed system of belief, but it was neither more nor less irrational than other revolutionary ideologies of the twentieth century. Gregor makes this case by presenting for the first time a chronological account of the major intellectual figures of Italian Fascism, tracing how the movement's ideas evolved in response to social and political developments inside and outside of Italy. Gregor follows Fascist thought from its beginnings in socialist ideology about the time of the First World War--when Mussolini himself was a leader of revolutionary socialism--through its evolution into a separate body of thought and to its destruction in the Second World War. Along the way, Gregor offers extended accounts of some of Italian Fascism's major thinkers, including Sergio Panunzio and Ugo Spirito, Alfredo Rocco (Mussolini's Minister of Justice), and Julius Evola, a bizarre and sinister figure who has inspired much contemporary "neofascism." Gregor's account reveals the flaws and tensions that dogged Fascist thought from the beginning, but shows that if we want to come to grips with one of the most important political movements of the twentieth century, we nevertheless need to understand that Fascism had serious intellectual as well as visceral roots.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1. Some Issues in the Intellectual History of Fascism

Chapter 2. The Historic Background and Enrico Corradini

Chapter 3. Alfredo Rocco and the Elements of Fascist Doctrine

Chapter 4. Sergio Panunzio: From Revolutionary to National Syndicalism

Chapter 5. Idealism, Ugo Spirito, and the Outlines of Fascist Doctrine

Chapter 6. Ugo Spirito and the Rationale of the Corporative State

Chapter 7. Sergio Panunzio and the Maturing of Fascist Doctrine

Chapter 8. Camillo Pellizzi, Carlo Costamagna, and the Final Issues

Chapter 9. Doctrinal Interlude: The Initiatic Racism of Julius Evola

Chapter 10. Doctrinal Continuity and the Fascist Social Republic

Chapter 11. Conclusions

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786612129551

9781282129559

1282129554

9781400826346

1400826349

OCLC:

334886590