Languages of Discrimination and Racism in Twentieth-Century Italy

This volume represents one of the first extensive studies that investigates the persistence of questions of race and racism in Italy from the liberal age to the present, through colonialism, Fascism and post-war Italy. It adopts an interdisciplinary perspective to investigate the intertwining of the cultural, social, legislative and political dynamics of discrimination in Italy's past and present. Drawing upon the expertise of historians, political scientists, sociologists, scholars of literature and experts in cultural studies, the original essays collected in this volume show a remarkable continuity and the persistence of racism in the Italian cultural and political discourse, in society and in the representation of Others. They also speak of the shifting of practices of Othering from one group to another in different historical contexts.

Connects colonialism and fascism with contemporary migration Deals with several historical and recent minority groups Adopts an intersectional approach

Auteur

Marcella Simoni is Associate Professor of History and Institutions of Asia at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Italy and is also affiliated with New York University, Florence. Her research interests include Jews in Asia, civil society in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the history of medicine and public health, a focus on history, memory and trauma, cinema in the Middle East.

Davide Lombardo is Lecturer in History and Liberal Studies at New York University, Florence, Italy and also teaches Political Science at Kent State University Florence. His research focuses on European culture from the nineteenth to the twentieth centuries.

Contenu

Introduction. The Languages of Discrimination and Racism in Italy in the Twentieth Century. Mobilities, Migrations, Racisms.- How a colonial subject became an Italian citizen. The life and naturalization of Sengal Workneh between colonial Eritrea and Italy (1880-1929).- Leave it for dogs and horses: Italy's Constitutional debate on Stirpe and Razza (1946-1947).- Short-and Long-term consequences of the Racial Laws and the Myth of the Good Italian.- When conflict spills over. Identities, memories, politics and representations of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Italy. The 1960s.- Between yellow and red: Stereotypes and racial discourses in 1950s Italian narratives of Communist China.- Racism in Italy and the Italian-Chinese Minority.- Islamophobia: Gender and racialization of religion.- Africa's Delivery Room. The Racialization of Italian Political Discourse on the 80th Anniversary of the Racial Laws.- South of what? In search of Italy's Others.- The Italian white burden: anti-racism, paternalism and sexism in Italian public discourse.- Double-Sided Sleights of Hand: Race in the Mirror.