Piero Gobetti - Böcker

This book is the first English-language edition of a collection of writings by one of Italy’s most important radical liberals, Piero Gobetti (1901–1926). In thirty-five thought-provoking essays, Gobetti proposes an original and challenging notion of liberalism as a revolutionary theory of both the individual and social and political movements. His theory is of particular relevance in the wake of the collapse of Marxist socialism, as non-Western countries with nonliberal or antiliberal cultural and moral traditions confront the problems of transition toward democracy and liberalism. Gobetti’s ideas continue to influence in important ways today’s heated debates over the nature of liberalism.Gobetti was the first Italian scholar to identify “two Italys”: one enlightened and modern though small and weak, the other premodern, traditional, and dominant. A witness to the seizure of power by the Fascists, Gobetti became convinced that Italy’s hostility to liberalism could be overcome only with a cultural revolution. Endorsing a radical liberalism, he nevertheless believed that the Communists, led by Antonio Gramsci, could play a crucial role in democratizing Italy by helping to develop a secular culture. For a liberal state to subsist and grow, Gobetti argued, there must first be a transformation of both the economic structure and the legal and moral culture of the society.

As we approach the centenary of the death of Italian journalist, radical liberal, and anti-fascist intellectual Piero Gobetti (1901–26), his insights into liberalism and anti-fascism resonate more than ever, particularly in light of the resurgence of reactionary politics reminiscent of fascism and ongoing debates surrounding (neo-)liberalism.An Intellectual against Fascism offers anglophone readers a new translation of over thirty articles that span Gobetti’s entire journalistic career, half of which have previously been unavailable in English. The volume is thoughtfully organized to allow readers to trace the progressive development of his ideas. To enhance understanding of Gobetti’s thought, this expertly curated collection includes his writings on literature, theatre, and literary criticism. It also features the complete text of La Rivoluzione Liberale (1924), his magnum opus, which has not been available in its entirety before. An extensive critical apparatus accompanies the collection, including a preface, an introduction, and concise introductions and notes for each article.