Il «peccato originale» della diplomazia culturale italiana (1889-1943)

This article focuses on Italian cultural diplomacy and fascist cultural propaganda abroad. The experience of three Italian cultural managers (Camillo Pellizzi, Giovanni Quarantotti and Attilio Tamaro) is useful to the analysis of Mussolini’s twin struggle against Soviet communism and the increasing Nazi threat in Europe between the 1920’s and 1930’s. This work will determine «how» Italian fascism tried to put roots in the UK, Germany and Finland through different cultural organisations such as the Società Dante Alighieri, the Istituti di Cultura Italiana, the Istituto Nazionale di Cultura Fascista. There is, however, no political influence without cultural propaganda and this means that universities, associations and institutions became potential weapons alongside diplomacy, education and information.