Atti, Vol. LIV No. 1, 2025.
Original scientific paper
THE ISTRIAN POLITICAL SOCIETY “IS NOT THE ENTIRE ITALIAN PARTY”. TUMULTUOUS HISTORY OF THE ITALIAN LIBERAL PARTY IN THE DIARIES OF THE PROVINCIAL CAPTAIN LODOVICO RIZZI (1903-1914)
Frank Wiggermann
; Società istriana di archeologia e storia patria Trieste - Italia
Abstract
The paper explores the events surrounding the Italian Liberal Party in Istria
from the late nineteenth century to the outbreak of the First World War, based
on information based on information obtained from the diaries of Lodovico Rizzi
(1903-1914), who performed the duty of moderately liberal Provincial Captain
of Istria from 1903 to 1916. Amid the democratization process underway in the
Habsburg Monarchy, first and foremost concerning the formation of large massbased
parties (Socialist and Christian-Social), the Italian Liberal Party in Istria also
attempted to transform its organizational form of notables to a democratic mass
organization. Rizzi’s diaries are an important source for understanding the functions
and dysfunctions of the Istrian Political Society founded in Pisino-Pazin in 1884,
succeeded by the National Union in 1913. On the other hand, local liberal groups,
such as the Democratic Association in Pola-Pula, had gained prominence with their
numerous successful activities, partly realizing what Francesco Salata, the rising
star among Italian liberal politicians, perceived to be the modern work of parties
in Istria: the formation of local branches everywhere, the hiring of commissioners,
with special attention paid to “the lower classes” and the commitment to sociopolitical
activities aimed at winning over the middle and lower social classes to the
Italian Liberal Party.
Keywords
Istria, Istrian Political Society, National Union, Lodovico Rizzi, Francesco Salata, Pola-Pula
Hrčak ID:
332133
URI
Publication date:
16.6.2025.
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