A macro-nationalist periodical for a new Europe? Franco-Italian exchanges and Latin Renaissance in Cronache della civiltà elleno-latina (1902–1907)

Abstract

This article focuses on the discourse on pacifism and Latinity in the Italian periodical Cronache della civiltà elleno-latina (1902–1907), founded by Angelo De Gubernatis. Under the leadership of Crispi in the 1880s and 1890s, Italy embraced expansionism, colonialism, and pro-German attitudes, which strained its relations with France. In stark contrast to this militarism, the Cronache championed a vision of Italy rooted in liberal and democratic ideals. The periodical advocated for a peaceful international order to enhance Italy’s position in modernity. In doing so, it proposed an anti-belligerent macro-nationalism based on the dissemination of the values of Latinity: harmony, peace, and order. Specifically, I analyze how the periodical used the historical relations between France and Italy to construct a myth of a new Latin Renaissance. This Renaissance envisioned a profound epochal transformation, a new beginning in European history characterized by peace, unity, and solidarity among Europe’s nations.