ITALIAN PIONEERS: Colonial propaganda and geographic explorations

Abstract

Scholarship in the field of Italian geographic explorations has mainly focused on expeditions that took place before fascism. This thesis analyses the relationship between fascism and geographic explorations, through a biographical reconstruction of three great figures of explorers who were active during the fascist period: the Duke of Abruzzi, the Duke of Spoleto and Ardito Desio. With the help of archival documents concerning actual economic and political support to the explores, I take into consideration the role played by central government, the contributions of various institutions, both public and private, such as banks, expansionist societies, commercial and mining companies and local councils, which were involved in financing explorations and colonial enterprises. Thus, this thesis shows how the regime exploited the personalities and explorative voyages of the explorers in terms of colonial propaganda and as representatives of its foreign expansionist policy. The propaganda apparatus portrayed explorers as 'national heroes', who contributed to the construction of a 'new and greater Italy'. The regime aimed to enhance national prestige by glorifying their daring explorative enterprises and pursued the enhancement of its colonial possessions by supporting scientific missions in the Italian colonies.