Italian Nationalism

Italian Nationalism is a series of talks given by Enrico Corradini between 1908 and 1914 on the subject of Italian nationalism. But nationalism did not exist in a vacuum then, or now - it coexisted and competed with other political, economic, and social movements and ideas, including socialism, liberalism, democracy, to be sure, but also imperialism, internationalism, European plutocracy, monarchy, and even (later) fascism.

Originally published in 1914, in Italian, under the title of Il nazionalismo italiano, it is Enrico Corradiniʼs contribution to the sometimes contentious, ever and ongoing conversation about the place, duties, and responsibilities (not just the rights or "freedoms") of the individual in the larger construct of the state or nation. And the nationʼs place, duties, and responsibilities in the world.

Enrico Corradini (AD 1865-1935) was an Italian journalist, novelist, editor, and senator. He was the founder and leader of the Italian Nationalist Association (L'Associazione Nazionalista Italiana), 1910-1923, an important Italian political party that later merged with the National Fascist Party in 1923.

... democracy is the insurance policy that is paid in public for oneʼs private use.

All contemporary democracy has a criminal nature... [it is] a political display of altruistic, popular... progressive and civil character, as a cover up... [for] its true nature which is made up of selfishness and egotistical exploitation.

On the cover is States of Mind (II): Those Who Go (Stati dʼAnimo: Quelli che vanno) by Umberto Boccioni, oil on canvas, 1911.