A late offensive. Italian cultural action in Belgrade in the last phase of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1937-1941)
After the signing of the so-called Ciano-Stojadinović Pact (March 1937), Italian-Yugoslav relations suddenly improved. The turnaround in bilateral relations between the two countries (destined, however, to remain ephemeral) was clearly visible in the field of cultural relations. This essay...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Institute for Balkan Studies SASA
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Balcanica |
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| Online Access: | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0350-7653/2021/0350-76532152083B.pdf |
| Summary: | After the signing of the so-called Ciano-Stojadinović Pact (March 1937),
Italian-Yugoslav relations suddenly improved. The turnaround in bilateral
relations between the two countries (destined, however, to remain ephemeral)
was clearly visible in the field of cultural relations. This essay aims to
show how, after 1937, the Italian authorities tried to promote Italian
culture and language in a big style in the capital of the Kingdom, Belgrade,
in an attempt to counteract the supremacy enjoyed up to then by the cultural
action of other countries such as France, Germany, etc., in order to promote
the Italian language and culture. The fascination with the Italian
civilization was also meant to contribute to bringing Yugoslavia politically
and ideologically closer to the Fascist regime. Despite the invested
resources and the success of some major events (for example, the great
exhibition of Italian portraits through the centuries) the results were
disappointing, showing once again the structural limits of Fascist political
and cultural action abroad. |
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| ISSN: | 0350-7653 2406-0801 |