(1805-72)
Italian nationalist, born in Genoa, who
spent most of his life in exile, campaigning
for a united, republican, and democratic
Italy. In 1831 Mazzini founded the Young
Italy (Giovine Italia) movement—part
political party and part subversive network.
He was a tireless propagandist, with his
ideas spread through a prolific
correspondence and journalism. He
established a number of periodicals,
including Giovine Italia and
Pensiero ed Azione (Thought and Action),
and a selection of his articles were
published as The Duties of Man
(1860). In 1834, whilst in exile in London,
he established a Young Europe movement, to
foster nationalist movements throughout the
continent, particularly in Italy, Germany,
and Poland; and was described by John Stuart
Mill as ‘the most eminent conspirator
and revolutionist now in Europe’. Following
the 1848 uprisings, Mazzini briefly headed a
republican government in Rome, but was
forced back into exile. He viewed the
unification of Italy in 1861 with some
disillusionment, as it failed to live up to
his democratic or republican ideals.
Mazzini provided much of the political
justification behind the Risorgimento
(Rising Again), the period of cultural
assertion and rebellion which led to the
establishment of a unitary Italian state. He
was influenced by
Condorcet, whose work he used to read at
University during the celebration of mass.
Mazzini hoped for a patriotic insurrection
which would overcome regional divisions
within Italy, and resist the influence of
the imperial powers of Austria and France.
His nationalism was moderate and somewhat
romantic, based on the development of civic
consciousness as a balance to individual
liberty, rather than racial or historical
determinism.
The Unification of Italy c1815-71
Giuseppe Mazzini, 1805-72
Italian nationalist, born in Genoa, who spent most of his life in exile, campaigning for a united, republican, and democratic Italy. In 1831 Mazzini founded the Young Italy (Giovine Italia) movement—part political party and part subversive network. He was a tireless propagandist, with his ideas spread through a prolific correspondence and journalism. He established a number of periodicals, including Giovine Italia and Pensiero ed Azione (Thought and Action), and a selection of his articles were published as The Duties of Man (1860). In 1834, whilst in exile in London, he established a Young Europe movement, to foster nationalist movements throughout the continent, particularly in Italy, Germany, and Poland; and was described by John Stuart Mill as ‘the most eminent conspirator and revolutionist now in Europe’. Following the 1848 uprisings, Mazzini briefly headed a republican government in Rome, but was forced back into exile. He viewed the unification of Italy in 1861 with some disillusionment, as it failed to live up to his democratic or republican ideals.
Mazzini provided much of the political justification behind the Risorgimento (Rising Again), the period of cultural assertion and rebellion which led to the establishment of a unitary Italian state. He was influenced by Condorcet, whose work he used to read at University during the celebration of mass. Mazzini hoped for a patriotic insurrection which would overcome regional divisions within Italy, and resist the influence of the imperial powers of Austria and France. His nationalism was moderate and somewhat romantic, based on the development of civic consciousness as a balance to individual liberty, rather than racial or historical determinism.
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