A New 'Generation' Of Democratic Politicians? Models Of Progress After Dictatorship In Germany, France, And Italy.pdf

Organized by the German Historical Institute in Rome (DHI) in cooperation with the German Historical Institute in Paris, this workshop explored how autocratic governments' legacies influenced post-World War II political and social progress in Germany, France, and Italy. The event delved into models of change, continuity, and the emergence of a new democratic generation between 1945 and the onset of the Cold War.

Key Concepts:

Jens Späth, introducing the workshop, highlighted six central concepts:

1. Progress: Examining social advancements across fields.
2. Generation Building: Focusing on leaders' shared democratic ideals.
3. Democracies: Linking peace and republic.
4. Break or Continuity (1945): Exploring system transformations.
5. Memory: Analyzing collective memory's elements of exclusion, inclusion, contestation, and silence.
6. Identity and Political Culture: Understanding post-war Europe's political landscape.

Workshop Panels:

Panel 1: Identity and Education

- Sebastian Gehrig (Heidelberg/Cambridge) discussed Germany's legal considerations after 1945, where continuity was emphasized to maintain German rights, contrasting with domestic intellectual journals' view of a break. Key players acted based on political beliefs rather than generational motivations.
- Tania Rusca (Genoa) analyzed Italy and Germany's post-war primary school policies and textbooks, noting progressive approaches in Southern Italy and subsequent reversals during the 1950s. In Germany, recent history was omitted due to educator insecurity about interpreting the past.

Panel 2: Intellectuals and Elites

- Dominik Rigoll (Jena) focused on "The Original '45ers," like Jean Améry and Eugen Kogon, who saw themselves as resistance fighters with a European duty, influenced by French political events in 1945. They experienced the failure of their ideas in the 1950s and 1968/69 protests.
- Mauve Carbonell (Luxembourg) traced the careers of ECSC High Authority members, marked by war's physical consequences and family concerns, despite a shared anti-communism. She noted their self-identification as technical experts without regret for past nationalist affiliations.
- Christian Blasberg (Rome) presented on "The Failure of the 'New Liberals' in Italy," arguing that Niccolò Carandini's absence from decision-making and his break with Croce contributed to his party's decline. Most pre-war politicians underestimated the need for mass politics, leading to migration to Christian Democrats after 1948.

Discussion:

The discussion centered on the role of individuals, generational motivations, and the influence of memory and education on political culture. Rigoll suggested that "Original '45ers'" was a small group called upon by allies for reconstruction, while Carbonell posited that personal and professional opportunities motivated many to accept positions in supranational institutions.