New Books in History Lorenzo Castellani, "Alberto Beneduce, Mussolini's Technocrat: Power, Knowledge, and Institutions in Fascist Italy" (Routledge, 2025)
Oct 18, 2025
Lorenzo Castellani, a researcher at LUISS Guido Carli in Rome, delves into the paradox of Alberto Beneduce, a socialist who thrived under Mussolini's regime. They discuss the dilemma of cooperating with authoritarianism and Beneduce's fascinating dual role: opposing fascism while building influential economic institutions. Castellani highlights how Beneduce's work laid the groundwork for post-war Italian capitalism, creating a 'state outside the state' that survived fascism. The conversation also touches on Italy's pioneering state interventionism and the blurred lines in Beneduce's nationalistic ties with Mussolini.
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Technocrat Who Shaped State-Market Relations
- Alberto Beneduce was a self-made mathematician-turned-technocrat who built state-led institutions across Italy's economy.
- Lorenzo Castellani argues Beneduce acted as a political figure shaping state-market relations, not merely a technician.
Italy As A Forerunner In State Intervention
- Italy became a forerunner in public intervention because it was late to capitalist development.
- Beneduce led public banks and agencies that institutionalized state-led development and continuity into the postwar era.
From Denunciation To Cooperation
- Beneduce publicly denounced fascist violence in 1922 and urged repression, yet he later chose to cooperate with Mussolini.
- He balanced personal disillusion with a systemic calculus to preserve institutions and influence policy under authoritarian rule.
