A heterogeneous audience of 130 attendees, including university professors, administrative and technical staff, university students, and high school students from Turin, followed the discussions of the UNITA-Universitas Montium Annual Conference, titled "Fascism, Authoritarianism, Military Regimes, and European Integration: Histories, Interpretations, Perspectives.", that took place in the Aula Magna of the Cavallerizza Reale in Turin and featured distinguished national and international scholars.
Organized as part of UNITA’s "European Citizenship Initiative", in collaboration with all the universities of the Alliance, Polo del ‘900, and Europe Direct Torino, the conference opened with institutional greetings from the Rector of the University of Turin, Stefano Geuna, and Matteo Bagnasco, representing Polo del ‘900.
A highlight of the day was the Lectio Magistralis delivered by Professor Anne-Sophie Nardelli-Malgrand from Université Savoie Mont Blanc, who analyzed fascism, neo-fascism, and post-fascism from a transnational perspective, covering the period from 1932 to the present day.
The first session, titled "Democracy and Authoritarianism: Assessing the Past and Risks for the Future," featured experts from various European universities. Among the most appreciated contributions was that of Professor Mauro Forno from the University of Turin, who examined Italian fascism as the first authoritarian experiment in Europe. Dr. Amaia Álvarez Berastegi from Universidad Pública de Navarra illustrated Spain’s long transition from dictatorship to democracy. Other key interventions included Professor Andreea Verteș-Olteanu from Universitatea de Vest din Timișoara, discussing Romania’s transition from authoritarianism to European integration, and Professor Nuno Amaral Jerónimo from Universidade de Beira Interior, analyzing Portugal’s transformation from an intercontinental empire to a European democracy.
After a lunch break, the conference resumed with the second session, titled "A Broader Perspective: Common Problems and Prospects." Among the speakers, Federico Trocini from the University of Bergamo examined the evolution of political language in authoritarian regimes between the 20th and 21st centuries, while Martina Coli from the University of Florence discussed the role of EU law as a potential safeguard against emerging authoritarianisms.
The conference concluded with remarks by Professor Anna Mastromarino from the University of Turin, emphasizing the importance of an interdisciplinary approach in understanding both past and present authoritarian tendencies.
The event sparked extensive debate among participants, confirming the relevance and urgency of the topic. The success of the conference further strengthens UNITA-Universitas Montium’s role as a key academic forum for international discussions on major historical and political issues.
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