Forms and Functions of Antifascism in Italian Political Life

In 1945 antifascism was the only means of legitimization at the disposal of Italy’s new political regime and of its new political elite. It was the new ideology of the newly born Republic, and it was used for this purpose at the beginning. But very soon, and more and more, it became a mere tool of the communist party in its struggle against its enemies, periodically accused of aiming at reinstating an authoritarian regime. Thus, and because of the Left’s strength during the entire after-war, the continuation of the opposition fascism/antifascism became a permanent feature of Italian cultural and political life. And the same reasons nourished the mythic image of Resistance as a great people’s rebellion. This paper examines the forms and phases of this subtle ideological operation aiming at providing the communist party with both the democratic and national legitimization which it so dramatically needed, and a hegemonic influence in the intellectual milieu.