Mutualità e consenso politico: il ruolo del movimento cooperativo nei Fasci siciliani

Mutuality and Political Consensus: The Role of the Co-operative Movement in the Sicilian Fasci

Between 1892 and 1894, co-operatives and mutual societies played a key role in the social mobilisation of the Sicilian Fasci. Despite this, historiography has not adequately investigated the unique bond between mutuality and the end-of-the-century revolt. The latter enabled the spread of new co-operative practices to meet bottom-up demands within a new political language based on social rights. Even though the Fasci were disbanded by the violent repression of 1894, opposing political and social actors saw co-operatives as tools for gaining popular support. This competition encouraged entrepreneurial experimentation, filling Sicily’s gap in the development of the co-operative business.

Keywords: Sicilian Fasci; Co-operative Movement; Social Rights; Mutuals