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Cambridge Social and Cultural Histories #20
Margini d'Italia
I 'margini d'Italia' sono tutto ciò che si è scelto di relegare alla periferia fisica o simbolica della nazione: le popolazioni africane delle colonie, le zone meno sviluppate del meridione, i manicomi prima della loro chiusura, le baraccopoli delle grandi città e i campi nomadi di oggi. È indubbio che l'esclusione di alcuni soggetti e alcuni luoghi contribuisce a determinare l'identità culturale di una nazione. Nel nostro paese l'esclusione sociale non è sempre passata attraverso un progetto politico preciso, ma è sempre stata contrassegnata da un discorso pubblico che ha rappresentato luoghi e persone come marginali.
Nel libro, le voci e le fotografie di coloro che hanno contribuito alla segregazione politica e sociale, o l'hanno combattuta, ci raccontano molto sul processo di formazione dell'Italia moderna. Il risultato è un ribaltamento di prospettiva nella considerazione della nostra identità, destinato a lasciare il segno nella storiografia italiana.
Nel libro, le voci e le fotografie di coloro che hanno contribuito alla segregazione politica e sociale, o l'hanno combattuta, ci raccontano molto sul processo di formazione dell'Italia moderna. Il risultato è un ribaltamento di prospettiva nella considerazione della nostra identità, destinato a lasciare il segno nella storiografia italiana.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
426 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 27, 2014
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September 20, 2024
The book is divided into five distinct chapters, which can be read separately depending on the importance of the subject for the reader. I especially enjoyed reading the earlier chapters. It’s an example of solid academic work, where theoretical precision and an abundance of information and detail come together, offering the reader both the pleasure of reading and sufficient insight into the topic.
The book's driving issues are discursive marginalization, the center-periphery relationship, and how the periphery is represented by various tendencies in the center, alongside the power dynamics embedded in all of this. These elements provide a fresh perspective on the unification and nation-building of Italy through the lens of the “Other.”
The second chapter, which deals with the issue of Italy’s colonies, was unexpectedly new to me. Particularly since it has never received much attention in Italy’s public sphere, and outside of Italy, this aspect of European colonial powers’ history has been taken less seriously. Despite that, I recommend this chapter to anyone with less knowledge on the subject or who is interested in the history of colonialism, and I wish you plenty of patience to endure the reading.
One of the most important issues in the book for me is the deeper understanding that nowhere is inherently or naturally marginal, remote, or peripheral. Even sympathetic representations of what is discursively considered “marginal” can hardly reverse power relations. At best, they leave a scratch on the face of the status quo, or, as the author seeks to show, they clarify the critical understanding of these power dynamics and our position in relation to them.
The book's driving issues are discursive marginalization, the center-periphery relationship, and how the periphery is represented by various tendencies in the center, alongside the power dynamics embedded in all of this. These elements provide a fresh perspective on the unification and nation-building of Italy through the lens of the “Other.”
The second chapter, which deals with the issue of Italy’s colonies, was unexpectedly new to me. Particularly since it has never received much attention in Italy’s public sphere, and outside of Italy, this aspect of European colonial powers’ history has been taken less seriously. Despite that, I recommend this chapter to anyone with less knowledge on the subject or who is interested in the history of colonialism, and I wish you plenty of patience to endure the reading.
One of the most important issues in the book for me is the deeper understanding that nowhere is inherently or naturally marginal, remote, or peripheral. Even sympathetic representations of what is discursively considered “marginal” can hardly reverse power relations. At best, they leave a scratch on the face of the status quo, or, as the author seeks to show, they clarify the critical understanding of these power dynamics and our position in relation to them.
Displaying 1 of 1 review