Recensioni. Stato e società nell'Europa napoleonica / Forme del dominio e organizzazione del consenso nella Roma napoleonica

Abstract

The author discusses the articles collected in the recent volume Napoleonische Expansionspolitik. Okkupation oder Integration? showing how Napoleonic policies triggered contrasting reactions in different European countries. On the one hand, they encouraged the emergence of new elites; on the other hand, they led to the transformation or collapse of traditional ones. The experience of the administrative State and its ambiguous civilizing mission was equally shocking and unexpected for both the upper and the lower classes. The volume Gli Stati romani durante l’eta napoleonica tra dominazione e ricerca di consenso, published in 2013, gathers the results of on-going research dealing with the Papal state during the Napoleonic period. While many recent works have focused on the opposition to French occupation, violence and constriction, this book examines the search for consensus, seen by French civil servants as the only way for building up a renovated and efficient Roman State. Nonetheless, at the end of the period, the restored pontifical State resorted to the modern coercion tools introduced by the French, for example the Police, whereas, in spite of Cardinal Consalvi’s efforts, it abandoned any attempt to build a public opinion.