ITALIAN ARTISANS AND THE ILLUSORY RETURN TO CORPORATISM DURING THE FASCIST PERIOD  ‚ €

Abstract

In Italy, the artisan sector underwent considerable development in the liberal era during the so-called period of “industrial take-o” (1861-1914). The largest professional organisation of craftsmen, founded in 1861 and inspired by corporatism, had a strong democratic and Mazinian influence. After the war, Fascist ideology of corporatism was presented as a solution to social conflicts and a small group of people loyal to Mussolini created the Fascist Autonomous Federation of Craft Communities in Italy in 1926. This research how the situation of craftsmen evolved during this period when the regime promoted the illusion of “integral” corporatism. Despite strong support from the regime, the Federation was unable to become autonomous and remained subordinate to Confindustria, the most powerful organisation of Italian industrial employers.