The Anarchist Assassin and Italian History, 1870s to 1930s

Abstract

This chapter will present an overview of the effects of anarchist assassinations and assassination attempts on the political, social and cultural history of Italy from the 1870s to the 1930s. Assassinations carried out by anarchists had a significant effect on the politics and the political culture of modern Italy, especially during the 1890s and the middle 1920s. I will examine how the intended and the unintended effects of these acts shaped the liberal and fascist states. This will be followed by a discussion of the effects of these acts on Italian culture and particularly on the culture of the left. This will include an examination of the social and cultural contexts of the assassins or would-be assassins themselves. Finally, the conclusion examines the mysteries, the serendipity, and the maze of competing narratives surrounding their acts.

I would like to thank Professor Benedict Anderson for his useful comments, kind suggestions and merciless proofreading of an earlier version of this chapter.