Witch-hunts and Corriere della Sera. A conservative perception of American political values in Cold War Italy: The 1950s

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyse some features of the Italian reception of American political and cultural values in the early 1950s. The received version projects the image of a clear-cut divide between communists and anti-communists in their feelings toward America. That was not the case. Recent studies show that the division was more along cultural than political lines. The study of Italian newspapers seems to confirm that point of view. An in-depth review of Corriere della Sera shows that Italian mainstream commentators were far from unanimous in their appreciation of the United States. A complex and controversial picture of American society emerged even when the crucial issue of communism was raised. Pro-American commentators were far from being yes-men. At times, doubts crept in.