To many people, Italy evokes pizza, lasagna, gondolas, mandolins, opera, and art.   But it is also a country stained by fascism and organized crime.  In order to understand the ills that plague Italy today, we will start with a survey of Italian history since its unification:  RISORGIMENTO.  In the words of Count Metternich, until 1861 Italy was nothing other than a “geographical expression.”  In this course, we will find out that Italy’s “dark shadows” have roots in the Risorgimento.  Was Italy truly unified? 

We will then move to fascism. However, before we delve into fascism and examine its roots and why it lasted for over a century, we will study the political arena that gave birth to a nefarious populism.  The loss of many lives and an impoverished Italian industry, as a result of World War I, fostered the image of Nietzsche’s Übermensch, a Messiah who will preach his new religion, a political doctrine by which the State and the individual are one: Benito Mussolini, Il Duce.  Imbued with philosophical ideas by Hegel, Evola, Nietzsche, and even Machiavelli, Mussolini’s fascism was also supported by writers and intellectuals who shared his vindication  for the rejection of individualism and acceptance of collectivism.  We will examine seminal essays, especially by Giovanni Gentile, the “philosopher of fascism,” and Benedetto Croce, who first affirmed the authority of the State.  When the Allies landed in Sicily, fascist authority was eventually weakened, with the help of the Mafia. 

The final part of the course will focus on Italian organized crime and its alleged ties with the government.   We will start with the economic and political conditions that laid the foundation for four bloody organizations:  Cosa Nostra, ‘Ndrangheta, Camorra, and Sacra Corona Unita.  To what extent have these criminals infiltrated the Italian and even foreign economy and government?   What is a pentito?  Is organized crime still strong? 

We will close with an analysis of Italian political parties today and the increasing shift from a center-left to right-wing  racist, xenophobic, and nationalist parties.  New neo-Nazi sentiments are on the rise in Italy primarily due to political ideologies, rooted in fascism and fostered by the incumbent Prime Minister of Italy, Georgia Meloni  (Brothers of Italy)  and Matteo Salvini  (North League.) 

The format of the course will be basically lectures and discussion. The lectures and presentations will be complemented by images and music, when applicable.  Weekly preparation will be about 2 hours.