FascistPrehistory · Fascist Prehistory: Nationalist and Internationalist dimensions of the human origin researches in the fascist capital (1925-1942)

Fascist Prehistory: Nationalist and Internationalist dimensions of the human origin researches in the fascist capital (1925-1942)

In one hand, FascistPrehistory (FP) consider that, in each historical moment, scientific universalism can be described as a configuration of relationships between the national and international horizons of scientific activity of palaeontologist in fascist Rome (objective 1). Objective 1 intended to analyse the relationships between the national and international horizons of scientific activity of palaeontologist in fascist Rome by providing a map of these interactions based on the network analysis of the dataset build on the professional network of Alberto Carlo Blanc. The network was intended to be reconstructed thanks to the correspondences conserved in a private archive. In the other hand, FP explores the resonances between religious and scientific universalism in the public sphere (objective 2). Looking together at unpublished Vatican documents, the Catholic and Vatican press, and documents from the 1925 Vatican Missionary Exhibition, along with Italian press and other documents from scientific archives, objective 2 was to examine the dissemination of discourses on universalism (scientific, Catholic, fascist) that were circulating in the Roman public space between the two world wars. Producing historical situated research on scientific universalists ambitions produced also in non democratics Countries, FP provide a historical model for thinking about this topic. It also aims to offer a reflection to overtake nationally bounded narratives on scientific activity and fascist heritage in the Italian public sphere, and provide access to an understanding of some complex and often polemical aspects of the history of fascism to a wider public. FascistPrehistory also relates to the policy context of the European Union, advocating the importance of historical interpretations for debates about our most crucial societal preoccupations. Science is one of the vectors of the European integration process: historical knowledge provided in forms suitable to enriching reflections on science and its political dimensions is urgently needed to deepen our collective awareness of modern dynamics of power and decision making. Bringing together leading experts in the fields of scientific internationalism (Maastricht University) and Catholic and contemporary history (secondment, École française de Rome), FascistPrehistory aims to renew our understanding of the role of the sciences in the building of a cosmopolitan culture under fascism.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union