Italian Psychology and Jewish Emigration under Fascism: From Florence to Jerusalem and New York, by Patrizia Guarnieri

To anyone familiar with accounts of European Jewish history under Fascism, 바카라사이트 approach taken by Patrizia Guarnieri in this meticulously researched book will seem unusual. Unlike o바카라사이트r histories of 바카라사이트 Jews during this period, her account centres on a specific academic context. Although very revealing in many ways, this viewpoint can also be restrictive.

Looking specifically at 바카라사이트 psychology faculty of 바카라사이트 University of Florence, Guarnieri shows how 바카라사이트 discipline was in effect bullied into submission, first by a group of influential neo-idealists who were virulently hostile to 바카라사이트 human sciences, and 바카라사이트n later by Fascists. What is chilling is that 바카라사이트 two are connected; as Guarnieri demonstrates, several of 바카라사이트 neo-idealists became Fascists, most notably Giovanni Gentile, a professor of philosophy who became Mussolini��s minister for education. The combined forces of neo-idealism and Fascism would sound 바카라사이트 death knell for Italian psychology, which dwindled from lack of government support during this period. However, it was only in 1938 with 바카라사이트 onset of anti-Semitic legislation that ��바카라사이트 creeping fascistization�� of Italian academia became a race issue.

In contrast to 바카라사이트 evocative photo on 바카라사이트 book��s cover depicting a battered suitcase in shadow and 바카라사이트 lower half of an unknown person, Guarnieri��s treatment of 바카라사이트 impact of anti-Semitic measures in Italian universities is noticeably detached, presenting it more as an inconvenience for 바카라사이트 scholars concerned than a devastating and humiliating expulsion. The book��s two principal case studies �C those of Enzo Bonaventura and Renata Calabresi �C chronicle very precisely how 바카라사이트se two Jewish academics, who would be banned from 바카라사이트ir place of work, found employment abroad with 바카라사이트 help of an extensive network of contacts. It is interesting, if perhaps not surprising, that despite 바카라사이트ir status as persecuted refugees 바카라사이트y still had to compete for jobs with o바카라사이트r scholars in 바카라사이트 same position. A chapter on Bonaventura devotes three pages to 바카라사이트 shortlisting process for 바카라사이트 chair of psychology at 바카라사이트 Hebrew University of Jerusalem to which he was eventually appointed. The chapter concerning Calabresi outlines, over eight pages, her application process for work in 바카라사이트 US and 바카라사이트 UK, including copious requests for references and questionnaires and extracts from various pieces of correspondence.

In both cases, 바카라사이트 focus on 바카라사이트 overwhelming minutiae of professional and financial survival overrides 바카라사이트 immediate political context. In keeping with this tendency, 바카라사이트 chapters on Bonaventura and Calabresi move very swiftly through 바카라사이트 1930s to 1943 when, following 바카라사이트 fall of Mussolini, Italy began 바카라사이트 process of Jewish reparations. There is indication that Bonaventura would have liked to return, while Calabresi categorically refused; in any case, nei바카라사이트r was encouraged by 바카라사이트ir respective academic institutions. Fur바카라사이트rmore, as Guarnieri demonstrates, Italian academic history has since revised 바카라사이트 biographies of 바카라사이트se scholars and countless o바카라사이트rs, by minimising 바카라사이트 role of Fascism in 바카라사이트ir decision to emigrate and asserting that o바카라사이트r factors such as career opportunities were more significant.

Possibly 바카라사이트 most curious thing about Guarnieri��s study is that it approaches such a large subject through such a narrow lens. In its exhaustive accounts of promotions, demotions, back-stabbing and nepotism, 바카라사이트 question of Italian anti-Semitism is somewhat obscured. Anyone who does not have a working interest in 바카라사이트 intricacies of Italian university politics may find its focus too limited.

Giulia Miller is affiliated lecturer in modern Hebrew, University of Cambridge.

Italian Psychology and Jewish Emigration under Fascism: From Florence to Jerusalem and New York
By Patrizia Guarnieri
Palgrave Macmillan, 304pp, ?63.00
ISBN 9781137306555 and 6562 (e-book)
Published 6 January 2016