Voices of Nonviolent Activism in Post-War Italy
Since the years immediately following the Second World War, small groups of nonviolent activists emerged across Italy. Often inspired by Gandhian principles or Christian values, they also have borrowed from a wide range of cultural influences. Despite their diversity and commitment, they have remained minority movements in a country where independent, uncompromising pacifism has struggled to take root.
In short, it is a galaxy of small groups, capable of collaboration and international engagements, but also divided by contrasting visions and often lacking sufficient resources. Between the late 1940s and the 1960s these groups confronted both old and new challenges – from conscientious objection to disarmament and dialogue in the nuclear age.
The most significant movement during those years in Perugia was led by by Aldo Capitini, a dynamic promoter of conferences, initiatives and centers inspired by the principles of nonviolence. However, there were other voices, such as the International Reconciliation Movement (MIR), which had an Italian branch since 1952, or Danilo Dolci, known for his fight for rights and against poverty in Sicily. Comparisons, though always easy, were made with other groups or associations such as the Catholic circles linked to don Primo Mazzolari, who by the mid 1950’s had arrived at a complete rejection of the war.
At the beginning of the 1960s, Capitini explored a new path: he proposed the idea of a march, organized by committed nonviolence advocates but open to everyone, seeking to engage the broader public and raise awareness about nonviolence and peace. The march took place in 1961, a walk from Perugia to Assisi.
The movement for the civil rights of blacks in the United States and the activism of Martin Luther King aroused significant attention and reflection among Italian nonviolent activists. King’s approach to nonviolence was discussed in journals and meetings, as happened in Perugia, in 1963 at the International Seminar of Discussions on the Techniques of Nonviolence. King’s struggle stands as a test case of the great novelty of the Gandhian approach: the possibility of resolving major conflicts through large-scale nonviolent mass action.
By the mid-1960s, in Rome, the nonviolent marchers were marching against all wars singing We Shall Overcome which was described by Nonviolent Action, the magazine edited by Capitini, as “the song of the nonviolent movement of Negroes of America”, and one that was becoming the hymn of
freedom, all over the world.” In the meantime, news spread within Italian nonviolence circles about the translation of the Letter from Birmingham Jail, issued in 1965 by publisher La Locusta in the volume La rivoluzione negra.
In 1968, on the assassination of King, the nonviolent organized two demonstrations in Rome in his honour: the 6th of April, a few hours after King’s assassination and the 9th of April, the day of his funeral. On this second occasion, the procession winded its way to Sapienza University, where participants attended a commemoration at the chapel. It was an opportunity – reported the MIR Newsletter – to reflect on how to concretely realize King’s teachings, “applying them to our Italian reality, with its own unique set of problems”.
In short, it is a galaxy of small groups, capable of collaboration and international engagements, but also divided by contrasting visions and often lacking sufficient resources. Between the late 1940s and the 1960s these groups confronted both old and new challenges – from conscientious objection to disarmament and dialogue in the nuclear age.
The most significant movement during those years in Perugia was led by by Aldo Capitini, a dynamic promoter of conferences, initiatives and centers inspired by the principles of nonviolence. However, there were other voices, such as the International Reconciliation Movement (MIR), which had an Italian branch since 1952, or Danilo Dolci, known for his fight for rights and against poverty in Sicily. Comparisons, though always easy, were made with other groups or associations such as the Catholic circles linked to don Primo Mazzolari, who by the mid 1950’s had arrived at a complete rejection of the war.
At the beginning of the 1960s, Capitini explored a new path: he proposed the idea of a march, organized by committed nonviolence advocates but open to everyone, seeking to engage the broader public and raise awareness about nonviolence and peace. The march took place in 1961, a walk from Perugia to Assisi.
The movement for the civil rights of blacks in the United States and the activism of Martin Luther King aroused significant attention and reflection among Italian nonviolent activists. King’s approach to nonviolence was discussed in journals and meetings, as happened in Perugia, in 1963 at the International Seminar of Discussions on the Techniques of Nonviolence. King’s struggle stands as a test case of the great novelty of the Gandhian approach: the possibility of resolving major conflicts through large-scale nonviolent mass action.
By the mid-1960s, in Rome, the nonviolent marchers were marching against all wars singing We Shall Overcome which was described by Nonviolent Action, the magazine edited by Capitini, as “the song of the nonviolent movement of Negroes of America”, and one that was becoming the hymn of
freedom, all over the world.” In the meantime, news spread within Italian nonviolence circles about the translation of the Letter from Birmingham Jail, issued in 1965 by publisher La Locusta in the volume La rivoluzione negra.
In 1968, on the assassination of King, the nonviolent organized two demonstrations in Rome in his honour: the 6th of April, a few hours after King’s assassination and the 9th of April, the day of his funeral. On this second occasion, the procession winded its way to Sapienza University, where participants attended a commemoration at the chapel. It was an opportunity – reported the MIR Newsletter – to reflect on how to concretely realize King’s teachings, “applying them to our Italian reality, with its own unique set of problems”.