Totalitarianism: Propagandistic Term of Scientific Category?

Abstract

Defining the notion of "totalitarianism" and its relation with the fascist and communist ideologies are topics intensely debated by the historians who study the contemporary period. In this paper, Pietro Grilli di Cortona analyses with a critical eye the most important opinions in this field and focuses his attention upon the debates which took place in Italy in this regard. In the contemporary period, Italy witnessed an impressive development of the fascist movement and, in the same time, of the communist one. If, in the period after 1945, the regime inaugurated by Mussolini was a priori considered a totalitarian one, defining communism as a totalitarian ideology raised many difficulties, the fact being considered an attack against the left. The discussions around this topic resulted in revaluating previous opinions, revaluations which have gone beyond the academic milieu, the final purpose being the reconciliation of the Italian people with its recent past.