IRSH 62 (2017), pp. 425–450 doi:10.1017/S0020859017000359 © 2017 Internationaal Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis Pietro Gori’s Anarchism: Politics and Spectacle (1895–1900)* E MANUELA M INUTO Department of Political Science, University of Pisa Via Serafini 3, 56126 Pisa, Italy E-mail:
[email protected] ABSTRACT: This paper discusses Pietro Gori’s charismatic leadership of the Italian anarchist movement at the turn of the nineteenth century and, in particular, the characteristics of his political communication. After a discussion of the literature on the topic, the first section examines Gramsci’s derogatory observations on the characteristics and success of the communicative style adopted by anarchist activists such as Gori. The second investigates the political project underpinning the kind of “organized anarchism” that Gori championed together with Malatesta. The third section unveils Gori’s communication strategy when promoting this project through those platforms considered by Gramsci as being primary schools of political alphabetization in liberal Italy: trials, funerals, commemorations, and celebrations. Particular attention is devoted to the trials, which effectively demonstrated Gori’s modern political skills. The analysis of Gori’s performance at the trials demonstrates Gramsci’s mistake in identifying Gori simply as one of the champions of political sentimentalism. He spoke very well, but he spoke the language of the people. And the people flocked in when his name was announced for a rally or for a conference.1 INTRODUCTION In the twenty years between 1890–1911, Pietro Gori was one of the most famous anarchists in Italy and abroad and, long after his death, he continued to be a key figure in the socialist and labour movement of his native country.