Michela Pusterla

Identity-building in the «Bulletin of the Italian Geographic Society» from 1867 to 1900

Are you already subscribed?
Login to check whether this content is already included on your personal or institutional subscription.

Abstract

This article considers the geographical discourse produced by the Italian geographical society (SGI) on its journal, the «Bulletin», in the second half of the nineteenth century (1867-1900). While scholars have traditionally emphasized the pioneering role played by the SGI in the Italian colonialist discourse, I focus here on the production of identities - that of Italian geographers and, more broadly, the Italian national identity. By analyzing articles covering three main «Bulletin» topics (science, explorations, and migration), I argue that identity is produced by emulation of, and in contrast with, the model of the North European geographical societies. This mechanism implies either the effacement of Italy's Mediterranean character or its reconfiguration within a revival of the Roman Empire, both elements later to be rearticulated within Liberal and Fascist colonialism, whose creative power in terms of «invention of tradition» has to be reconsidered.

Keywords

  • Italian Identity
  • Italian Colonialism
  • Società Geografica Italiana
  • Nation Building
  • Travel Literature

Preview

Article first page

What do you think about the recent suggestion?

Trova nel catalogo di Worldcat