Racial Theories in Fascist Italy examines the role played by race and racism in the development of Italian identity during the fascist period. The book examines the struggle between Mussolini, the fascist hierarchy, scientists and others in formulating a racial persona that would gain wide acceptance in Italy. Aaron Gillette seeks to explain Mussolini's decision to add racism and racial theory to fascist ideology. He finds that the Duce settled on racism in a final effort to galvanize Italian nationalism and unity behind a fascist movement in decline. He also examines the insurmountable difficulties faced by this nationalism because of complex Italian regional differences. Were the Italians an 'Aryan' people as were the Germans to the North? Or were they a Mediterranean people, whose proud classical heritage made them natural enemies of the northern 'Goths'? This is the first book to examine in detail the debates over racial theory in Fascist Italy between the academic and scientific communities, and among the fascist leadership itself.
Gillette analyzes the shifting official policies on race that resulted from the influence of Nazi Germany, prominent fascists and scientists and Mussolini himself on racist theory. Rather than unifying the Italian people, the addition of a racial identity to fascism had the opposite effect. Racial Theories in Fascist Italy will be of interest to historians, to political scientists concerned with the development of fascism and scholars of race and racism.