1962-1973: Worker and student struggles in Italy

A history of the wave of strikes and occupations that gripped Italian factories and universities during the 1960s. Coming to a head with the Hot Autumn of 1969, independent forms of struggle used by workers represented a significant attempt to break from restrictive trade unions.

Rising from a period of centre-left coalition that had been marked by a constant failure to bring promised reforms to Italian society, the struggles of the 1960s acted as a pressure gauge for many sections of the Italian working class, one which was to reach its climax during the mass strikes of 1968-1970.

Italy 1977-8 - 'Living with an Earthquake' - Red Notes

Documents, personal accounts and analysis - from a time when a very high level of class struggle dominated Italian society. Despite their differences - the state, church, fascists, Communist Party and unions were all united in opposition to the the radical social movement.

Link to PDF of pamphlet.

Published by Red Notes, London, UK, late 1970s

Cattivi Maestri: Some Reflections on the Legacy of Guido Bianchini, Luciano Ferrari Bravo and Primo Moroni - Steve Wright

Steve Wright's analysis of the ideas of three Marxists who, along with Antonio Negri, were accused of being the "evil masters" of red terrorism in 1960s and 1970s Italy.

Cattivi Maestri: Reflections on the Legacy of Guido Bianchini, Luciano Ferrari Bravo and Primo

Steve Wright

You were like one who, traveling by night,

Carries the torch behind - no help to him -

But he makes those who follow him the wiser.(1)

Reviewing the experience of Italy in the 1970s - Negri

Antonio Negri recalls the political experience of various aspects of the mass struggles of the 1970s in Italy, including the Strategy of Tension.

Between "historic compromise" and terrorism
Reviewing the experience of Italy in the 1970s

Classe Operaia - The birth of Italian Workerism

A history of the origins of the radical Italian theoretical current known as 'Operaismo' (Workerism), which began with Mario Tronti's Journal Classe Operaia.

An extract from Steve Wright’s book 'Storming Heaven'

The Workerists and the unions in Italy's 'Hot Autumn'

A brief history of the Italian Workerists in the 'Hot Autumn' of 1969, when unions succeeded in recuperating radical working class demands - leaving the Workerists to pursue the doomed road of all-or-nothing armed struggle

Extract from Steve Wright’s book 'Storming Heaven'

'We Are All Delegates!'

Obituary: Goliardo Fiaschi, 1930-2000 - Stuart Christie

Obituary of Italian anarchist Goliardo Fiaschi by Stuart Christie from the Guardian newspaper.

By Stuart Christie
From the Guardian, Wednesday August 16, 2000

- Goliardo's biography by Antonio Tellez on libcom.org/history

1977: The Bologna uprising

Students and workers fight together on the streets of Bologna

A very brief outline of the seizure of Bologna by workers and students in 1977, and the run-up to it following the shooting of a demonstrator.

Autonomia!

Italy 1977 saw a spontaneous and creative outbreaks of rebellion demonstrating that the potential for revolution still exists in the working class of the industrialised west - no matter what the lefty cynics say.

1958-1990: Operation Gladio, Italy

The history of the secret neo-fascist army in Italy set up ostensibly to resist Soviet invasion, but in reality to be used in the event of the working class growing too strong once again.

Following the end of World War II, the Italian workers’ movement was rapidly gaining strength. In some towns the fascists had been kicked out by Resistance forces (as before the war, these were usually led by socialists and anarchists), and embryonic workers’ councils were governing.

1969-?: The Strategy of Tension in Italy

August 2 1980 Bologna Central Station attack

Information about the Italian state's "Strategy of Tension" policy in which it carried out terrorist attacks against its own people in order to blame the left and anarchists.

Faced with a huge growth of working class power, with strikes, occupations, self-reduction of prices and mass squatting the intelligence services began carrying out terrorist acts with the help of fascist groups. Anarchists and the left were blamed, and working class militants were arrested.

Italy 60s-70s