From Fascism to Democracy: Culture and Politics in the Italian Election of 1948 (Toronto Italian Studies)

From Fascism to Democracy tells the story of the birth of the post-war Italian political system through the lens of a single event: the Italian national election of 1948, the first parliamentary election of the Republican era. Robert A. Ventresca offers the first comprehensive analysis of this central topic of contemporary Italian and European history. Bringing together the broad political and diplomatic narrative of 1948 with the social and psychological dimensions that determined how ordinary Italians experienced the election campaign, this book is about much more than just a political event. Broad in scope, it is a story about the fall of Fascism and the achievements of the Italian Resistance, Italian political culture, American influence in Italian politics at the start of the Cold War, and the interaction between Italy's secular and religious traditions. From Fascism to Democracy expands on the common understanding of what is 'political' to examine how such factors as popular piety, gender, and historical memory became intertwined with the politics of Italy's fledgling democracy. From Fascism To Democracy Examines The Birth Of The Postwar Italian Political System Through The Lens Of A Single Event: The Italian National Election Of 1948, The First Parliamentary Election Of The Republican Era. Robert A. Ventresca Provides Readers With A Comprehensive Analysis Of This Central Topic Of Contemporary Italian And European History. Bringing Together The Broad Political And Diplomatic Narrative Of 1948 With The Social And Psychological Dimensions That Determined How Ordinary Italians Experienced The Election Campaign, This Book Is About Much More Than Just A Political Event. Broad In Scope, It Is A Story About The Fall Of Fascism And The Achievements Of The Italian Resistance, Italian Political Culture, American Influence In Italian Politics At The Start Of The Cold War, And The Interaction Between Italy's Secular And Religious Traditions. From Fascism To Democracy Expands On The Common Understanding Of What Is 'political' To Examine How Such Factors As Popular Piety, Gender, And Historical Memory Became Intertwined With The Politics Of Italy's Fledgling Democracy.--book Jacket. The Legacy Of Fascism : Redefining Italy After Mussolini -- Guns, Butter, And Good Ole Yankee Know-how : America's Crusade To Defeat Italian Communism -- Madonnas, Miracles, And The Pulpit As Soapbox : The Use Of The Sacred In The Campaign For Christ -- Salerno Betrayed : Italian Communism From Participation To Confrontation -- When Politics Reaches The Altar : Catholic Action Gets Out The Vote -- Battle Of The Senses : The Propaganda War -- A Free And Fair Election? : The Campaign -- The Day After -- Epilogue : Politics In A New Key Or Blocked Democracy? Robert A. Ventresca. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [339]-342) And Index. "From Fascism to Democracy examines the birth of the postwar Italian political system through the lens of a single event: the Italian national election of 1948, the first parliamentary election of the republican era. Robert A. Ventresca provides readers with a comprehensive analysis of this central topic of contemporary Italian and European history. Bringing together the broad political and diplomatic narrative of 1948 with the social and psychological dimensions that determined how ordinary Italians experienced the election campaign, this book is about much more than just a political event. Broad in scope, it is a story about the fall of Fascism and the achievements of the Italian Resistance, Italian political culture, American influence in Italian politics at the start of the Cold War, and the interaction between Italy's secular and religious traditions. From Fascism to Democracy expands on the common understanding of what is 'political' to examine how such factors as popular piety, gender, and historical memory became intertwined with the politics of Italy's fledgling democracy."--Résumé de l'éditeur Contents 7 Acknowledgments 9 Abbreviations: Italian Political Parties, 1944-1948 13 Introduction 15 1. The Legacy of Fascism: Redefining Italy after Mussolini 38 2. Guns, Butter, and Good Ole Yankee Know-How: America's Crusade to Defeat Italian Communism 75 3. Madonnas, Miracles, and the Pulpit as Soapbox: The Use of the Sacred in the Campaign for Christ 114 4. Salerno Betrayed: Italian Communism from Participation to Confrontation 152 5. When Politics Reaches the Altar: Catholic Action Gets Out the Vote 191 6. Battle of the Senses: The Propaganda War 211 7. A Free and Fair Election? The Campaign 227 8. The Day After 250 Epilogue: Politics in a New Key or Blocked Democracy? 276 Appendix. On Elections: Voting in 1948 287 Notes 299 Selected Bibliography 353 Illustration Credits 357 Index 359 This text tells the story of the birth of the post-war Italian political system through the lens of a single event: the Italian national election of 1948. It is a story about the fall of Fascism and the achievements of the Italian Resistance, and Italian political culture