Umberto Campagnolo, the European Society of Culture and the Atomic Threat: A Peace Proposal from Intellectuals During the Cold War

This chapter examines the ideas of the Italian philosopher Umberto Campagnolo, alongside an analysis of the role of the European Society of Culture (SEC) in addressing peace and the atomic threat in the 1950s and 1960s. It contextualises the SEC within the framework of the Cold War, characterised by ideological polarisation and competing cultural initiatives. Influenced by debates on sovereignty and federalism, Campagnolo argued that the international order needed to be radically transformed beyond the scope of nation-states. His approach centred on the autonomy of culture and the rejection of political instrumentalization, leading to the foundation of the SEC in 1950 as a forum uniting intellectual across ideological divides through dialogue rather than political alignment. While engaging with contemporary issues such as nuclear weapons, the SEC avoided taking explicit political positions, instead fostering critical reflection. Campagnolo rejected both traditional diplomacy and politically driven pacifist movements, emphasizing instead a “pre-political” cultural responsibility. His concept of “politics of culture” framed dialogue as a moral and transformative practice that was essential to achieving peace. Ultimately, the SEC’s project aimed to establish the cultural and legal conditions necessary for a unified and peaceful Europe.