International historiography of modern Italy since 1945. Developments and trends

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Italian historiography has changed considerably since 1945. This can be attributed to processes of societal and political transformation, and also to the internationalization of historical sciences. The reception of studies of non-Italian historians on national history of Italy played an important role in this context, although the international historiography never constituted a unified current. Rather, it can be considered a kind of collection of heterogenous groups, that remained anchored in national intellectual traditions, used different historiographical methods und cooperated seldom across national borders. Notwithstanding, the reception of international historiography on Italy triggered debates among Italian historians, e.g. on the history of the Risorgimento, of Liberal Italy or Fascism. Since the 1990s, historiography is shaped by a phase of growing internationalization and globalization. This tendency also influences the research of international historiography on Italy, bringing new opportunities as well as the risk of a further fragmentation of the discipline.