The Twentieth Century

The chapter traces the emergence of twentieth-century Italy, charting its transition from the repressive instability of the late nineteenth century to a more mature liberal democracy. It highlights the political turning points marked by the failure of Pelloux’s authoritarian measures, the assassination of King Umberto I and the establishment of a more constitutional monarchy under Victor Emmanuel III. Central to this period is Giovanni Giolitti, whose reformist and pragmatic leadership shaped Italy’s political life up to the eve of the First World War. Economic and social transformations are also examined, including early industrialization and the rise of organized labor. Shifts in gender roles and a vibrant cultural landscape - characterized by popular entertainment and avant-garde movements such as Futurism - further illustrate the era’s dynamism. During the colonial war for the conquest of Libya, the emergence of organized nationalism as a political force reflected the growing appeal of militaristic and expansionist ideas, while the Socialist Party abandoned its reformist stance to radicalize under the leadership of the young Benito Mussolini. Overall, the chapter presents a country caught between modernisation and backwardness, democratization and political radicalization, foreshadowing the crises that would erupt during and after the Great War