70 years after the death of Alcide de Gasperi: father of Italian reconstruction and European integration
- Early years and training
- Political career and resistance to fascism
- Leadership in the reconstruction of Italy
- European thinking: founding father of European integration
- De Gasperi's legacy: 70 years on
This year we commemorate the 70th anniversary of the death of one of the fathers of Europe, the Italian, Alcide De Gasperi, one of the most influential figures in 20th century European politics, who died on 19 August 1954, leaving behind him an indelible legacy. As we mark the 70th anniversary of his death, it is timely to recall his life, his ideas and the crucial role he played in the reconstruction of Italy and the formation of the united Europe we know today. De Gasperi was not only a prominent political leader in his native country, but also one of the most important architects of European integration, basing his thinking on democratic, Christian and humanist values.
Early years and training
Alcide De Gasperi was born on 3 April 1881 in Pieve Ticino, a small town which at the time was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, although culturally and linguistically it belonged to the Italian region of Trentino. His origin in an area under imperial control was decisive in shaping his political thinking, as from a young age he witnessed the tensions between different nationalisms and the oppression of cultural and linguistic minorities.
From his student years, De Gasperi showed a deep interest in political and social ideas. He studied philology and literature at the University of Vienna, where he came into contact with social Catholicism, a trend that sought to reconcile the principles of Christianity with the economic and social realities of modernity. It was precisely this ideological basis that led him to become involved in politics. In 1905 he joined the Italian Popular Party, led by the priest Luigi Sturzo, a formation that defended Christian democratic values and fought for social justice and regional autonomy.
Political career and resistance to fascism
After World War I and the annexation of Trentino to Italy, De Gasperi was elected to the Italian parliament in 1921 as a representative of the People's Party. However, the rise of fascism under the leadership of Benito Mussolini soon drastically changed the political situation in Italy. De Gasperi, as a staunch advocate of democracy and social Catholicism, openly opposed the Fascist regime. This resistance cost him dearly: in 1926 the Popular Party was dissolved by Mussolini's government, and De Gasperi was arrested and imprisoned for his opposition to the regime.
After his release, De Gasperi spent a long period in hiding, working as a librarian in Vatican City. During these years, he consolidated his relationship with the Catholic Church, but also maintained contacts with anti-fascist groups, always with the conviction that the future of Italy had to involve the restoration of democracy and the defence of human rights. It was in this context that his vision of a united and peaceful Europe began to take shape, an idea that would flourish after the Second World War.
Leadership in the reconstruction of Italy
With the fall of the Fascist regime and the end of World War II, De Gasperi emerged as one of the country's most important leaders. In 1942 he co-founded Christian Democracy (DC), a party inspired by the principles of social Catholicism, which advocated liberal democracy, social justice and national reconciliation. In 1945, after the liberation of Italy, he was appointed prime minister, a position he held until 1953.
During his term of office, De Gasperi played a crucial role in the reconstruction of Italy, both politically and economically. First, he oversaw the country's transition from monarchy to republic following the 1946 referendum that abolished the Italian monarchy. He was also involved in drafting the new republican constitution, a document that consolidated Italy's democratic values and civil liberties, and which remains the basis of the country's political order to this day.
One of his main achievements was the economic recovery of Italy, a country devastated by war. Under his leadership, Italy was a major beneficiary of the Marshall Plan, the US economic aid programme for the reconstruction of Europe. De Gasperi used this aid to modernise Italy's industry and infrastructure, enabling the country to recover quickly and laying the foundations for its subsequent ‘economic miracle’ in the 1950s and 1960s.
European thinking: founding father of European integration
Beyond his legacy in Italy, one of De Gasperi's most lasting contributions was his role as one of the founding fathers of a united Europe. Like other contemporary leaders such as Robert Schuman and Konrad Adenauer, De Gasperi was convinced that peace and stability in Europe could only be achieved through greater economic and political integration among the continent's nations, for he believed that ‘the future will not be built by force or conquest, but by the patient application of the democratic method, the spirit of constructive consensus and respect for freedom’.
From this perspective, he was one of the main driving forces behind the creation of European institutions to facilitate cooperation and mutual understanding. In 1951, Italy, under his leadership, was one of the six founding countries of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), one of the first European supranational organisations, which laid the foundations for what would later become the European Union. De Gasperi saw European integration not only as a way of avoiding future conflicts, but also as an opportunity to strengthen the economy and improve the living conditions of the European peoples.
His vision of Europe was profoundly humanist, based on the principles of solidarity, cooperation and respect for cultural differences. At the same time, his thinking was marked by a clear defence of Christian values, which he considered essential for the cohesion and moral development of Europe. De Gasperi saw Christian democracy as a way to overcome the ideological tensions between liberalism and socialism, offering a framework in which both individual rights and the common good could be respected.
De Gasperi's legacy: 70 years on
Seventy years after his death, Alcide De Gasperi's legacy remains profoundly relevant. His work in rebuilding Italy, his defence of democracy and his vision of a united Europe have left an indelible mark on contemporary history. At a time when Europe is facing new challenges, such as the rise of nationalism, migration crises and internal tensions within the European Union, De Gasperi's ideas on the importance of international cooperation, dialogue and integration continue to offer valuable lessons.
Today, De Gasperi is remembered not only as a great Italian statesman, but also as one of the architects of modern Europe, a visionary who understood that the destiny of the European peoples was inevitably linked and that the only way to ensure peace and prosperity was through a union based on shared values. His legacy lives on in the European institutions, in the stability of the continent's democracies and in the idea that Europe, despite its differences, can and must work together for a better future.
On this 70th anniversary, it is essential to remember Alcide De Gasperi not only for what he did in his time, but for the path he blazed for future generations, showing us that democracy, social justice and European unity are values that are always worth defending and promoting, and that his thoughts and ideas should serve as a beacon and guide for us in times such as these.
Carlos Uriarte Sánchez
Secretary General of Paneuoropa Spain and Vice-President of the European Coudenhove-Kalergi Society