Abstract
For the leaders of fascism, publishing was a privileged tool for gaining consensus. Thus, they established a relationship with the publishing industry that ensured not only total control over the sector but also its full mobilization in support of the regime. This study examines for the first time the Vallecchi publishing house in Florence and its role in disseminating racist and antisemitic propaganda before and after the 1938 racial laws. Fully integrated into the regime’s ideological framework, Vallecchi emerged as one of the most zealous producers of racist and antisemitic literature during the Fascist dictatorship. Vallecchi’s commitment to the regime’s racial policies was reflected in its periodicals, the works of its authors and in its close ties with architects of fascist censorship. Indeed, it represents a perfect case study for investigating how the regime exploited the cultural world, particularly the publishing industry, to influence the masses. While engaging with literary history, this study aligns with the historiographical approach that considers publishing history as an ancillary discipline of intellectual history. Methodologically, this means ‘historicizing’ the publisher’s catalogues, financial records, and print runs, interpreting them in the light of the contemporary political and social context. Accordingly, primary sources include bibliographies and catalogues, along with printed and archival materials. Findings highlight Vallecchi’s central role in producing and distributing racist and antisemitic literature, and the integration of intellectuals into fascist propaganda. Ultimately, the project aims to contribute to the broader field of research on how cultural industry mediate political ideology under authoritarian regimes.
Presenters
Serena MinnitiPost-doctoral Fellow, Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism (SICSA), Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Yerushalayim, Israel
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Publishing, Fascism, Racism, Antisemitism, Propaganda, Censorship
