Oppressed nationalities

Author(s)
Elena Bacchin
Abstract

This article analyses the activities organised in Italy to support the Polish Uprising of 1863 and the speeches and narratives used to present this foreign question to the Italian public. This international event brought to the forefront the same issues that had been raised by Italian nationalism, and also when discussing foreign national movements, Italy reflected both on her own identity and past history. In particular, the democratic ideals of the Risorgimento found their fulfilment in supporting the Polish rebels. The article, using archival sources, tries to build a transnational approach to Italian nationalism with a particular focus on how both Italian patriots and public opinion perceived and acted towards other ‘oppressed nationalities’ while also struggling to complete its own unification. Supporting a foreign cause was not only an expression of solidarity, but it also strengthened national sentiment and provoked a reflection on Italian national pride and identity.

Organisation(s)
Department of History
Journal
Nations and Nationalism
Volume
23
Pages
151-172
No. of pages
22
ISSN
1354-5078
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/nana.12266
Publication date
01-2017
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
601005 European history
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Geography, Planning and Development, Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous), Political Science and International Relations
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/8afa2aad-0d1d-45d3-8b16-4a86fd94a0b6