FRANCESCO TORCHIANI

Il fascismo e l'idea di Roma: note sulla recente storiografia

220

Gennaio-Aprile 2009

Anno LXXIV    n. 1

Abstract - The essay is aimed to discuss the way in which the fascist government used the “Roman myth”. The Italian fascism, mainly during the 30’s, lacking in a clear-cut ideological framework, began to use imagery, myths and rites taken from the Roman heritage to prop up confidence and to shape a collective identity. This is noticeable in the cultural and demographic policies pursued by the regime as well as in those related to farming and public works. In regard to the latter, Rome in particular underwent massive public works to be turned in a stage-set for Mussolini and the fascist establishment, thus forsaking monarchic symbolism that had been the rather predominant architectural mark of the capital until then. As Emilio Gentile pointed out «the regime intended to bear a “new Italian”, moulded after the body of the Duce, seen as a modern Roman legionnaire». Such an interpretation stirred a good deal of dissent among historians. Some of them (Vidotto, Zunino) assessed that such policies were utterly ineffective, others (Giardina) argued over their cultural flimsiness.