Separatism has been a traditional vehicle of protest for the Sicilian people. In 1943, after the collapse of the Fascist regime, a new Separatist Movement emerged to become one of Italy's most serious post-war political problems. / The Separatist Movement found its membership from among all social levels and all political groups and was led by members of the island's conservative classes, including large landowners, the Mafia and the middle class. Its aim was the creation of an independent Sicilian nation which would eventually join Italy in a loose confederation of states. On other issues, the movement had no firm position because of the heterogeneous nature of the membership. Basically, the movement developed as a response to the fear that great social changes would occur if the island remained unified to post-war Italy. Those who supported the Separatist Movement did so because they wished to preserve the basic features of Sicilian society. The Separatist Movement, therefore, represented a conservative revolution, one which proposed radical means to preserve traditional society. / Between 1943 and 1945, the Separatist Movement managed to build a huge following. While its leaders spoke of revolution, they followed moderate policies. As the Italian government grew stronger and the separatist's maneuvering space shrank, they adopted more radical methods. A separatist army was created an plans made for revolution. In addition, numerous pleas for international assistance were issued, but in late 1945 and 1946, the government undertook a forceful campaign to crush the movement. In October 1945, the movement's leader, Andrea Finocchiaro-Aprile was arrested and within months the separatist army was destroyed. Although the movement functioned for two more years, it was rejected by the Sicilian people in electoral campaigns and finally disintegrated under the weight of ideological conflict. / Despite its failure, the Separatist Movement was directly responsible for the autonomy granted Sicily in May 1946 by the Italian state, an act which signified a definite change in the historical relationship between the mainland and the island. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 42-10, Section: A, page: 4549. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1981.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_74641 |
| Contributors | FINKELSTEIN, MONTE S., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 612 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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