L'esame di coscienza della nazione: gli intellettuali, il problema dei giovani e la transizione al postfascismo

The «Examination of Conscience» of the Nation: the Italian Intellectuals, the problem of the youth and the transition to post-Fascism. In the frame of the analysis of Italians’ general attitude toward the awkward memory of the totalitarian experience, this article tries to assess the still controversial question concerning the legacy of Fascism in Italy. Focusing on the transition to post-Fascism of the young intellectuals grown up during the fascist regime, the author suggests that the difficult relationship between the anti-Fascist movement and the younger generation and its attempt to reject both Fascist and anti-Fascist ideologies and values reveals, as a result of the totalitarian formation, the permanence of an integralist attitude among the post-war youth. In this sense, the so called “long journey” from Fascism to anti-Fascism was accomplished by many young intellectuals – such as Aldo Moro – mostly within the frame of the new democratic system.