Storia e Politica (Dec 2023)
L'industrializzazione del Mezzogiorno, una questione nazionale. Il dibattito della rivista ‘Prospettive meridionali’ (1955-1956)
Abstract
The following essay reconstructs the long and complex debate on the industrialization of Southern Italy hosted by the journal «Prospettive Meridionali». The Catholic-oriented journal, directed by the Christian Democrat Giorgio Tupini, between 1955 and 1956 invited politicians, trade unionists, economists, intellectuals, and entrepreneurs to express their views on the methods and timing necessary for industrializing the South of Italy. The debate took place at a time when the Democrazia Cristiana, the leading governing party, supported the theories of the “nuovo meridionalismo” and Pasquale Saraceno, which viewed industry as an indispensable tool to help the southern economy. In particular, three trends emerged from the debate: one was opposition to the industrialization of the South directed by the state because it was seen as detrimental to the free market and damaging to the country’s economy; the proposal to initiate a broad economic process that, in addition to industrializing the southern part of the country, would also address social and cultural issues; full support for the state’s action, considered the only entity capable of undertaking risky economic initiatives and viewing industrialization as the most effective solution to the problem of unemployment.
