Italian Anti-Fascism (Routledge Studies in Fascism and the Far Right)

This book offers a concise and original history of anti-fascism through the Italian case, tracing its evolution from its origins in opposition to Fascism to its contemporary transformations and crisis, while reinterpreting it as a dynamic and generative tradition rather than a fixed historical legacy.

Readers will gain a deeper understanding of anti-fascism as a complex and evolving political, social, and cultural phenomenon, as well as critical tools to interpret current debates on democracy, the far right, and political memory in Italy and beyond. The book shows how anti-fascism has continually redefined itself across different historical phases – from the Resistance to postwar social movements, decolonisation, and contemporary politics – highlighting its capacity to generate new meanings and practices. It addresses pressing questions about the relationship between today’s political actors, including Giorgia Meloni’s government, and the anti-fascist foundations of the Italian Republic, offering insights that resonate far beyond the national context. Combining historical analysis with a broad interpretive perspective, the book challenges conventional narratives that reduce anti-fascism to a closed chapter of the past, instead presenting it as a living framework for understanding democracy and social justice. By engaging with themes such as nationalism, racism, and the persistence of authoritarian tendencies, it equips readers with a critical lens to analyse both historical continuities and present-day transformations.

The book will appeal to scholars and students of modern Italian history, political history, anti-fascism studies, European studies, political theory, and contemporary politics. It will also appeal to general readers interested in the history of Fascism and anti-fascism, as well as those seeking to understand current political developments in Italy and the broader global rise of the far right.

Andrea Rapini is Professor of Contemporary History in the Department of Sociology and Business Law at the University of Bologna.