Il Meridione ‘accessorio del paese’. L’Italia postunitaria fra nazionalizzazione del Mezzogiorno e politicizzazione di un pregiudizio

Marco Pignotti

2021-01-01

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Abstract

The expression 'Italian dualism' is responsible for having contributed to building the prejudice of a South characterized only by economic immobility and cultural backwardness. The need to search for the origins of the political use of this prejudice stems from this proven communication strategy. In this regard, historical research also makes use of the methodology used by digital humanities. This contribution, in fact, focuses its focus on the chronological segment that ends with the fall of the ‘Destra storica’ from the Unit, because this political phase is identified as a promoter of the stereotypes conventionally attributed to the South. The old ruling class sets up its own electoral campaign (1874-1876) by focusing its political discourse on the superiority of the northern regions, while the ‘Sinistra storica’ responds with an argumentative strategy that overturns prejudice.