A civil war

Claudio Pavone “s masterwork, widely recognized as the key reference on the Italian Resistance, addresses crucial issues related to the transition from fascist Italy to the postwar period, viewed from the perspective of the morality at work amongst the protagonists. In an analysis of the events between September 1943 and April 1945, Claudio Pavone distinguishes three processes: a patriotic war, a civil war and a class war ”three wars which were often fought by the same actors. He thus introduces a new interpretation capable of grasping all the nuances of a historical event of great complexity. The topics covered in this study ”including the legacy of the fascist war, the dissolution of institutional certainties, loyalties and betrayals, the founding value of political choices, the relationship between generations, utopia and reality, the critical knot of issues around violence ”force us to reflect on some pressing and ever more significant issues, first and foremost that of the relationship between politics and morality in history.