Italian national identity and nationalism (1870-1980)

[Summary of the book containing this chapter:] This book is a comprehensive and revealing compilation of essays analyzing the varied dimensions of national identities and nationalisms across world regions and through time: revolutions to establish self-determination...wars to protect or expand a homeland...movements to promote a unified identity within a country. So many of history's most dramatic - and tragic - events have been fueled by the cause of nationalism. From the French Revolution to Nazi Germany to Rwanda and the Balkans, nationalism has reshaped - and continually redrawn - the world's political map.The pervasiveness of nationalism, its many manifestations over the centuries, and the widely scattered way it has been studied make it a particularly difficult subject to approach and explore. ABC-CLIO offers the finest comprehensive reference available on an essential topic in modern world history. Across four volumes, "Nations and Nationalism: A Global Historical Overview" covers all aspects of nationalism, in all parts of the world, from the time of the French Revolution to the present day. "Nations and Nationalism" helps students, researchers, and other interested readers explore national identities and nationalistic movements in historical context. Organized chronologically, its four volumes combine thematic essays on different characteristics of nationalism with case studies of key historical developments involving specific nations at specific times. The encyclopedia focuses on Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia, with featured coverage of nationalist cultural creations, including literature, music, symbols, and mythologies.This title features: over 150 contributors - distinguished international scholars from a wide range of disciplines; over 100 case studies covering all major world regions from the origins of modern nationalism in the 18th century to the present; 40 thematic essays that frame the case studies with discussions of different contexts and central issues in the development of nations and nationalism; hundreds of photographs and illustrations portraying important persons, monuments, places and artifacts; and, a general index offering access to the entries by different topics, places, and persons.It: covers the entire time period of the evolution of modern nationalism from its origins in the 18th century to the present and helps readers compare and contrast developments in different regions and locate information on places that are customarily neglected or sidelined.