Lorenzo Castellani

In this insightful discussion, Lorenzo Castellani, a researcher at LUISS Guido Carli and the author of a pioneering book on Alberto Beneduce, delves into the complex choices faced by technocrats during authoritarian regimes. He explores Beneduce's remarkable journey from socialist critic to key player in Mussolini's regime, ultimately shaping Italy's economic landscape. The conversation highlights the delicate balance between political power and institutional integrity, questioning whether collaboration under tyranny could yield more significant benefits than resistance.

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.