Revolutions of 1917–1923 Codexery

Biennio Rosso

Two years of intense social conflict in post-WWI Italy.

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It was characterized by strikes, mass demonstrations, and factory occupations, and was followed by the violent reaction of fascist blackshirts.[1][2] The period known as the Biennio Rosso, or "Two Red Years," spanned 1919 to 1920 and was marked by severe social upheaval in Italy after World War I.[1]

Key facts and history

Rising inflation and mass demobilization of the army aggravated extensive unemployment.[3] Trade union and socialist party membership increased substantially during this period.[3] The anarchist Italian Syndicalist Union had between 300,000 and 500,000 affiliates.[3] Prominent anarchist propagandist Errico Malatesta returned from exile in December 1919.[3]

In Turin and Milan, factory councils were formed, and many factory occupations took place.[4] Industrial strikes numbered 1,663 in 1919, compared to 810 in 1913.[5][6] This era unfolded against a backdrop of postwar economic hardship, widespread joblessness, and political turmoil.[2] In 1919, over one million industrial workers participated in strikes.[5][6]

What the research sources say

Megan Trudell's 2007 article notes that Fiat's capital leapt from 17 million lire in 1914 to 200 million lire in 1919.[6] The same source states that the PSI increased membership from 23,000 in 1918 to 200,000 in 1920.[6] Trudell also reports that by October 1919, 50,000 workers across 30 plants were organized into councils.[6] A libcom.org account describes that internal commissions were based on a mandated and recallable shop steward for every 15-20 workers.[7]

The libcom.org source notes that by February 1919, the FIOM won a contract allowing commissions in workplaces.[7] Neil Faulkner's 2012 article states that during the Biennio Rosso, Italy came close to resolving tensions through socialist revolution.[8]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Biennio Rosso" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Brunella Dalla Casa, Composizione di classe, rivendicazioni e professionalità nelle lotte del "biennio rosso" a Bologna, in: AA. VV, Bologna 1920; le origini de (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Biennio Rosso" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Brunella Dalla Casa, Composizione di classe, rivendicazioni e professionalità nelle lotte del "biennio rosso" a Bologna, in: AA. VV, Bologna 1920; le origini de; Pelz, Against Capitalism, pp. 126-28 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Biennio Rosso" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Biennio Rosso (1919–1920) in: Ness, Immanuel (2009). The International Encyclopedia of Revolution and Protest, Blackwell Publishing,; Di Paola, Pietro, 1966-, "The knights errant of anarchy : London and diaspora of Italian anarchist diaspora (1880-1917)", 4 September 2013, p. 203 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Biennio Rosso" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Bellamy & Schecter, Gramsci and the Italian State, p. 29; Obinger, "Warfare and Welfare: Military Conflict and Welfare State Development in Western Countries", Oxford University Press, 21 June 2018 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Biennio Rosso" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Gramsci: the Turin years, by Megan Trudell, International Socialism No. 114, April 2007; Neufeld, Italy: school for awakening countries, p. 547; 1918-1921: The Italian factory occupations and Biennio Rosso at libcom.org; Gluckstein, "The Western Soviets: workers' councils versus parliament 1915-1920", Bookmarks Publ, 1985, p. 175 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Gramsci: the Turin years, by Megan Trudell, International Socialism No. 114, April 2007. facts only, no text reused. isj.org.uk
  7. 1918-1921: The Italian factory occupations and Biennio Rosso at libcom.org. facts only, no text reused. libcom.org
  8. A Marxist History of the World part 76: Italy’s 'Two Red Years', Counterfire, May 20, 2012. facts only, no text reused. counterfire.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Biennio Rosso (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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