Between leader-worship and member’s democracy: The consumer co-operatives in the fascist Italy

  • Tito Menzani Università di Bologna
  • Francisco J. Medina-Albaladejo Universitat de València
Keywords: Consumer co-operatives, fascism, interwar period, Italy, State

Abstract

We analyse the impact of the Italian fascist regime on the consumer co-operative movement. This is of great interest because of the clash between an anti-democratic political culture and a democratic economic culture. We intend to demonstrate that the fascist regime penalized the consumer co-operative movement in various ways. However, a small number of organizations were an exception to this state of events, and paradoxically succeeded, from an entrepreneurial point of view. Some problems — small size, excessive social investments, a more political than entrepreneurial vision — were often resolved by the new administrators. This distinction is absolutely essential also in terms of the “legacy” for the consumer co-operative movement after 1945 in Italy.

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How to Cite
Menzani T. y Medina-Albaladejo F. J. (2018). Between leader-worship and member’s democracy: The consumer co-operatives in the fascist Italy. Historia y Política, 39, 235-260. https://doi.org/10.18042/hp.39.09