The seminar got underway with the participants recalling that when Charles De Gaulle met André Malraux in the aftermath of the Second World War, he said to him, “D’abord le passé”, meaning that a sense of history enables each of us to look back at the past to find our way out of a current critical phase and work towards building the future.
It was observed that the third 50-year anniversary of the unification of Italy (due to take place in 2011) will unquestionably be marked by the effects of increased life expectancy. In 1911 and 1961, the likelihood of witnessing two such celebrations was very remote. Today, thanks to medical advances, it may prove possible for many.
However, this anniversary will also be different from those of the past in terms of the lesser importance placed on great commemorative works as opposed to addressing the current need to invest in human capital. For whilst the country may be physically united, there is still a need to strengthen the national identity – including through re-evaluation.
In 1961, a cultural undertaking of this order would not have been possible. The Risorgimento still divided liberals from Catholics, and both of them from communists.
Today, however, the conditions are right for young people to relive the memory of the various figures who made that era a historical turning point and brought about the unification of the country. It is therefore vital that firm steps be taken to prevent political tensions from spilling over into the celebrations through the involvement of politicians in the debate between historians.
If it is assumed – as was widely agreed by the participants – that the Risorgimento was an attempt to endow Italians with a thoroughly modern institutional framework, then the underlying purpose of the celebrations should be to engage in a serious, calm and non-rhetorical reflection on the progress made towards that goal and the ensuing consequences which Italians are faced with today.
Following this approach will enable foundations to be laid for efforts to eliminate the economic, legal and social disparities which afflict certain key areas of the country. It is important, however, not to confuse disparity – in itself, bad – with regional and cultural diversity, which in contrast is at the heart of the local vibrancy.
It was also suggested that “Making the most of human capital” would constitute a good catchphrase for the upcoming celebrations, but that it is important to be able to transform this into a concrete reality by embarking on several important initiatives – projects which, whilst being inspired by the past, would produce useful outcomes for the present and the future.
In this regard, various proposals for initiatives were put forward by the participants during the debate. These included analyzing the role that political parties (both as cohesive and divisive forces) have played in the country’s history, and conducting a study on the public administration and the contribution which, in its various forms, it has made to the unification of Italy.
The participants highlighted that just as local diversity acts as a vital force, it is also true that the efforts made by certain leading business figures towards stimulating development have contributed to this. Their work, it was felt, should become part of the heritage passed on to Italy’s younger generations.
Various initiatives, it was suggested, could also be dedicated to celebrating Italian excellence, including the establishment of a national science museum drawing on the country’s great scientific tradition. Whilst being a tribute to the past, it would also, above all, be an opportunity to revive interest in scientific culture, which seems to be flagging amongst the younger generations.
Last but not least, making the most of the nation’s past also entails rediscovering, maintaining and turning to advantage its vast wealth of cultural and artistic heritage.
It was noted that there is a willingness on the part of the government to seize the precious opportunity afforded by these celebrations to reaffirm, throughout Italian society, the importance of collective memory. This would enable the development of a shared sense of understanding and a common space of dialogue, called for by many and crucial to addressing as-yet unresolved national issues, such as Italy’s Mezzogiorno.
The participants observed that this program would clearly need to avoid being fragmented into a thousand different activities and should instead focus on a few key initiatives ranging from events hosting historical debates to concrete measures regarding the assets that form part of the country’s heritage. The involvement of young people would be assured through collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research, with the media – ranging from television to the internet – clearly playing an important role in retelling the story.
In closing, it was suggested that whilst this may not sound like the makings of a new Alessandro Manzoni novel, it will be the story of all Italians, of the everyday people and the heroes who – despite their young age – were the bearers of values worth preserving.