Un’interpretazione “anomala” del fascismo. La lezione di Gaetano Salvemini nel contesto italiano ed europeo

An "anomalous" interpretation of fascism. Gaetano Salvemini's lesson in the Italian and European context

Abstract

This paper is a critical analysis of Salvemini’s interpretation of fascism: an original perspective which breaks with all the “classical interpretations”. His approach to history is based on the empirical observation of the results of individual actions, differently from the idealistic methodology at the heart of Croce’s interpretation. His vision also differs from Marxist theory, according to which fascism is a mere reflection of the capitalist superstructure. Moreover, in conflict with the “theory of revelation”, he believes that fascism cannot be traced back to the spirit of the Italian people. He also rejects the idea of “imperfect totalitarianism”, based on the impossibility of the full realization of Mussolini’s totalitarian experiment. Finally, Salvemini strongly refuses the myth of medieval guilds – with its pyramidal view of society – at the heart of Catholic thought. Given these considerations on what fascism was not, what, then, was fascism? It was “methodically used violence”.