The ‘secrets’ of two masters of democracy, the correspondence between Bobbio and Valiani

Two masters ofdemocracy, freedom e socialismreveal their doubts, anxieties and most intimate ideas in onecorrespondence which has so far remained unpublished. L’correspondence between Norberto Bobbio and Leo Valianicollected in the volume “A possible instrument of human freedom. Norberto Bobbio and socialism. With the Bobbio-Valiani correspondence (1954-1994)”, edited by Giovanni Scirocco for Biblion edizioni, provides a testimony of great interest on twocentral figures of the non-communist Italian leftof the second half of the twentieth century.

The book also contains a preface by Mario Ricciardi and an introductory essay by Scirocco. The letters, which span a period of 40 years, address topics ranging fromphilosophy alle institutional issueswith a tone that always remains relaxed and friendly.

At the beginning one perceives a deference, almost awe, of thephilosopher Bobbio verso lo historical Valiani. Although they were the same age, they were both born in 1909, Valiani had gained much more experience “in the field” thananti-fascist action: already at the end of the 1920s he had twice met thefascist prison e il confinementbefore taking refuge in exile in Paris in 1936. Participates in theSpanish civil warin defense of the Republic.

At the outbreak of war, he was taken to the Le Vernet internment camp. During his imprisonment he abandoned theCommunist Partyfiercely criticizing iStalin’s crimesand adheres toJustice and Freedom. Upon returning to Italy he joined theAction Partyand is committed toResistence.

Bobbio’s academic career

His career is decidedly more “academic”.Bobbiowho began working at the university in 1935, although there was a brief arrest a few months before and then, in 1939, the beginning of hisclandestine anti-fascist activity. He also joins theAction Party durante la Resistenceand becomes one of the leading exponents ofLiberal Socialist Movementwhich intends to reconcile thefreedom of liberalism e la justice of socialism.

The letter of help to Mussolini

When, in 1992, a letter will be made public in whichBobbio asked Mussolini for helpto get a job at university,Valiani will defend his friendnot mixing with the “easy moralists” who perhaps had never lived under a dictatorship. Bobbio, for his part, will not look for excuses: “I don’t want to appear to be begging for justifications.

There were those who did not compromise”. The dissolution of theAction Partyleads, at least immediately, to the exit of the two friends from the political scene. Valiani will regain a more active commitment with the establishment ofRadical Partyin the second half of the 1950s (he later joined the Republican Party); while Bobbio will always consider itself aintellectual from the socialist area.

The maestro Benedetto Croce

Both are proponents of aliberalismwho must reject the conservatism of the “master”Benedetto Croceand seek mediation with the egalitarian demands ofreformist socialism. Bobbio is very critical of the “revolutionism” ofCommunist Partyand because it doesn’t take the problem offreedomand both because, he wrote to Lelio Basso in 1958, “in Italy, by dint of preparing for the revolution, not even the reforms have been carried out”.

But his criticism is also severe towards the new Craxian course ofPsi: “Il Socialist Partythe party that was born as the political organization ofworkers’ movementthe party of Turati and Treves, of Nenni and Morandi, has become a party of purepolitical professionalswho are only concerned with maintaining or increasing and not losing their power”. Even if he then admits: “Of course, I speak of the Socialist Party because the tongue strikes where the tooth hurts. But it’s not as if the air is healthier in the other parties.”

The collapse of communism

Although he has always been critical of thecommunismin 1989, atfall of the Berlin WallBobbio understands all the problems that thedemocracywould have had in front of him after thecollapse of communism: “I don’t have the euphoria of good democrats who feel they are on the side of the victors. Instead, I feel more than ever on the side of the vanquished, because victorious democracy finds itself faced with immense tasks and shows, as never before, all its flaws. Starting with the inability to inspiremoral forcesand from the need it feeds on and cannot do without, to reduce themarket politics“.

“Militant intellectual”

Leo Valiani scompare nel 1999 e Bobbiohe will remember him with beautiful words, which sublimate an extraordinary existence: “Among my peers and friends, I had more admiration for no one than for Leo Valiani. His was an admirable life forcourage e per intelligence. The life of amilitant intellectual, historical, journalist, die-hard fighter for freedom. I lived the life of a sedentary intellectual, Valiani was always in action (…). He loved itpoliticsand fought in politics. But not the politics of intrigue, of power, the politics of great ideals. Above all, theideal of freedomwhich he also defended in the dark days ofterrorismwith a series of courageous articles”. Bobbio passed away five years after his friend, in 2004.