CasaPound

CasaPound Italy (Italian: CasaPound Italia, CPI; "House of Ezra Pound") is an Italian neo-fascist movement and formerly a political party born as a network of far-right social centres arising from the occupation of a state-owned building by squatters in the neighborhood of Esquilino in Rome on 26 December 2003.

CasaPound Italy

CasaPound Italia
PresidentGianluca Iannone
SecretarySimone Di Stefano
Founded26 December 2003 (2003-12-26)[1]
Youth wingStudents' Block
Membership (2017)6,000[2][3]
IdeologyNeo-fascism[4]
Ultranationalism[5]
Hard Euroscepticism[6]
Souverainism[7][8]
Anti-immigration
Anti-capitalism[9]
Political positionFar-right[10][11][12][13]
Party flag
Website
casapounditalia.org

Subsequently, the phenomenon spread with other instances of squatting, demonstrations and various initiatives, becoming a political movement.

As such, in June 2008, CasaPound therefore constituted an "association of social promotion", and assumed its current name CasaPound Italy – CPI; the party's symbol is the "Arrowed Turtle".[14] On 26 June 2019, CasaPound's leader Gianluca Iannone announced CasaPound existence as a political party was finished, going back to its original status of social movement. [15]

History
CasaPound occupied building in Rome

The first illegal occupation made using the name CasaPound was on 26 December 2003 in Rome, by a group of young people referring to the ONC/OSA area (acronym for "Non-Compliant Occupations and Occupations with a Housing Purpose"), and coming from previous experience of CasaMontag (named after Guy Montag) at the gates of Rome. The building, a state-owned building in via Napoleone III, later has been used as the national headquarters of the movement and the association. In 2010, 23 families and a total of 82 people lived in CasaPound occupied building.[16]

Previously, CasaPound was associated with Tricolour Flame until 2008[17] but now has its own movement, CasaPound Italy, extending all over Italy with many social centres. While CPI does not recognize the classic definitions of right and left,[18] it is commonly placed in the category of the political groups and movements of the Italian radical right. Casapound is generally self-defined by its followers as Third Position, however.[19]

In 2011 it was estimated that CasaPound Italy had 5,000 members, while in 2017 they reached 6,000.[20] On 13 November 2017, Simone Di Stefano was elected secretary and nominal prime ministerial candidate for the 2018 general election,[21] although the party subsequently formally stated that it hoped Northern League leader Matteo Salvini became Prime Minister.[22]

In order to participate in the 2019 European Parliament election in Italy, an electoral joint list was formed by CasaPound together with United Right.[23] CasaPound leader Simone Di Stefano topped the coalition's list however the coalition was unable to win any seats in the European Parliament.[24]

Ideology
Part of the Politics and elections and Politics series on
Neo-fascism
 Politics portal

One feature of this movement, according to sociologist Emanuele Toscano, is to present a different interpretation of fascism aimed at overcoming the dichotomy of right-left.[25] The political position of CasaPound is based on the fascist Third Position, defined as "extreme-upper-centre" by the movement itself.[26]

The name, inspired by the poet Ezra Pound, refers to his Cantos against usury, criticisms of the economic positions of both capitalism and Marxism, and his membership of the Italian Social Republic. It also gives particular attention to the Manifesto of Verona, the Labour Charter of 1927 and social legislation of fascism.[27] There has been collaboration with the identitarian movement which propagates a white, Christian Europe.[28] The movement also claim the legacy of far-left figures, like Che Guevara[29] and Hugo Chávez.[30]

On social and domestic issues, CasaPound has a strong anti-immigration rhetoric,[31] but lack of homogeneity on other themes. In January 2016, many members of the movement participated in the Family Day, supporting the traditional family idea.[32][33] In 2017, the establishment of CasaPound expressed support to the same-sex marriage, advance directive and improvement of the welfare state.[34][35] The party supports abortion rights. Some activists of the movement expressed antisemitic and xenophobic rhetoric online,[36] but CasaPound refuses both and expels members who support these ideas.[37]

On foreign policy, CasaPound is critical of the European Union, instead supporting a communitarian-nationalist Europe.[38][39] The Movement was originally both anti-American[40][41] and anti-Zionist,[42] and started a cooperation with the Lebanese anti-imperialist, anti-Zionist Hezbollah organization in 2015.[43] However, Di Stefano later said, "we do not have problems with Israel".[44] In 2018, Di Stefano defended Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies regarding repatriation of illegal immigrants to Africa as "undoubtedly excellent", and criticised humanitarian organisations and the United Nations for intervening to prevent them.[45] Di Stefano has expressed support for U.S. President Donald Trump, but requested that he close U.S. military bases in Italy.[46]

Activities
CasaPound rally in Naples.

The social centre has its own musical band, Zetazeroalfa, an association of civil protection and promotes sports (hiking, parachuting, diving and other disciplines), union activities, and recreational activities, including a theater company, web radio, web television and a monthly magazine.

CasaPound has promoted initiatives outside the Italian territory through its non-profit organization Solidarité Identités.[47] The activities of the movement have been the subject of attention by some foreign media.[48][49][50]

From the period of activity of the first social centre then were organized and cultural meetings with several guests, including writer Nicolai Lilin,[51] the LGBT deputy Paola Concia,[52] an ex-Red Brigades Valerio Morucci,[53] and the Chinese community.[54]

The main CasaPound political proposal is the so-called Mutuo Sociale (Social Mortgage),[55] as a response to the problem of housing which, according to official data, involving approximately 23,000 households throughout Italy. In October 2011, the Lazio Region officially approved it within its "House Plan".[56]

Starting with the 2011 elections CasaPound presented their candidates in local elections in civic lists or centre-right and succeeded in electing its representatives.[57] At regional and national elections of 2013 CasaPound Italy announced that it will present its civic lists throughout Italy.

Youth wing
Logo of Blocco Studentesco, the youth wing of CasaPound.

In 2006, the movement that arose around the first community centre was endowed with its student organization, under the name "Students' Block" (Italian: Blocco Studentesco).[58] Francesco Polacchi is the General Secretary of Students' Block. Their logo resembles that of the British Union of Fascists.

Questions have been submitted by parliamentarians of the Democratic Party about fascist propaganda and the violence of the student movement.[59]

International meetings

Over the years the leaders of CasaPound Italy have been invited to explain its “political model” in many of the major European capitals (Paris, Madrid, London, Lisbon, Brussels, Warsaw)[60] and the organization has been the subject of some reports by foreign media.[48][49]

In 2011 the Finnish Resistance Movement also invited members of CasaPound to a seminar in Helsinki.[61] This shows an ability of the European nationalists to organize beyond ideological differences. The Finnish Resistance Movement represents national socialism.[62] The Finnish Security Intelligence Service researched the connections of the Finnish Resistance Movement to CasaPound after the 2011 Florence shootings.[63]

Symbolic figures

The party's choice of American poet Ezra Pound as a symbol of the movement has caused controversy with his daughter, Mary de Rachewiltz, who claimed it distorts the meaning of Pound's work and represents a "misappropriation" of his image,[64] despite Pound's stated support for fascism.

Electoral results

Italian Parliament
Chamber of Deputies
Election year Votes % Seats +/– Leader
2013 47,691 (20th) 0.14
0 / 630
–
Gianluca Iannone
2018 312,432 (10th) 0.95
0 / 630
–
Simone Di Stefano
Senate of the Republic
Election year Votes % Seats +/– Leader
2013 40,540 (20th) 0.13
0 / 315
–
Gianluca Iannone
2018 259,718 (10th) 0.86
0 / 315
–
Simone Di Stefano

European Parliament
European Parliament
Election year Votes % Seats +/– Leader
2019 89,142 0.33
0 / 72
new
 Simone Di Stefano
Massimiliano Panero

Regional Councils
Region Election year Votes % Seats +/–
Lombardy 2018 45,416 0.86
0 / 80
–
Umbria 2015 2,343 0.66
0 / 20
–
Lazio 2013 18,491 0.66
0 / 50
–
2018 42,609 1.68
0 / 50
–
Abruzzo 2019 2,974 0.47
0 / 31
–
Molise 2018 477 0.33
0 / 21
–
South Tyrol 2018 2,451 0.86
0 / 35
–
Trentino 2018 1,215 0.48
0 / 35
–
gollark: Well, power... nope, not at all.
gollark: What would it actually give you in terms of benefits?
gollark: But why?
gollark: /warp choruscity
gollark: Join the Chorus City[-State]!

See also

References
  1. Giuseppe Parente (26 December 2016). "26 Dicembre 2003: Nel Cuore Di Roma Nasce CasaPound". FascinAzione.
  2. "CasaPound: quasi seimila iscritti in 48 ore, risultato da record per la festa del tesseramento". CasaPound Italia. 16 January 2017.
  3. "Archived copy". RECONQUISTA. 17 February 2016. Archived from the original on 12 May 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Pietro Castelli Gattinara; Caterina Froio; Matteo Albanese (2013). The appeal of neo-fascism in times of crisis. The experience of CasaPound Italia (PDF). . Journal of Comparative Fascist Studies.
  5. "Reggio Emilia - Contro ogni nazionalismo, per un'Europa di diritti e dignità". Global Project.
  6. "Intervista a Simone Di Stefano sull'Unione Europea".
  7. Katia Bonchi (14 September 2017). "Estrema destra, parlano i militanti della Superba: "Neofascisti? Termine riduttivo, siamo sovranisti e guardiamo al futuro"". Genova24.
  8. Antonio Rapisarda (14 June 2017). "I movimenti di Ultradestra provano a rifarsi il look come "sovranisti" (E qualcuno li vota...)". Dagospia.
  9. Jean-Yves Camus; Nicolas Lebourg (5 November 2015). Les Droites extrêmes en Europe (in French). ISBN 9782021176520.
  10. Binnie, Isla (20 November 2017). "Italy's far-right makes inroads locally as nation frets about fascism". Reuters. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  11. "Far-right CasaPound activist 'attacked' (3) - English". 1 March 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  12. "++ Far-right CasaPound activist 'attacked in Livorno' ++". Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  13. Millar, Joey (8 March 2018). "Anti-fascists BOMB far-right party headquarters as tensions rise after Italy election". Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  14. "Il Simbolo". www.casapounditalia.org. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  15. https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2019/06/27/news/casapound_torna_movimento_iannone-229739363/
  16. (in Italian) Mario Bernardi Guardi, "Sono fascisti i ragazzi di Casa Pound e del Blocco Studentesco? È da qualche anno che politici, giornalisti, sociologi si pongono la domanda ed è da qualche anno che non riescono a dare e a darsi una risposta convincente," Archived 4 August 2012 at Archive.today Il Tempo (22/10/2010). Retrieved 14 December 2013.
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  18. (in Italian) "Manifesto dell’Estremocentroalto" Archived 31 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine (18 October 2011). Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  19. ""Basta con destra e sinistra Meglio etica, epica ed estetica"". ilGiornale.it (in Italian). Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  20. Tom Kington, "Italy's fascists stay true to Mussolini's ideology,"The Guardian (6 November 2011). Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  21. "Elezioni: Di Stefano diventa il segretario di CasaPound e lancia il programma per le politiche". www.casapounditalia.org. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  22. "Fascists throw support behind hard-Right party in Silvio Berlusconi's alliance ahead of Italian election". The Daily Telegraph. 26 February 2018.
  23. "Elezioni Europee 2019: CasaPound in lizza con Destre Unite". Affaritaliani.it.
  24. "CasaPound Italia - Destre Unite - I candidati - Speciale Europee 2019".
  25. Emanuele Toscano & Daniele Di Nunzio "Can We Still Speak about Extreme Right Movements? Casapound in Italy between Community and Subjectivation Drives," XVII World Congress of Sociology (14 July 2010). Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  26. ""Basta con destra e sinistra Meglio etica, epica ed estetica"". il Giornale. 10 April 2009.
  27. Paolo Berizzi (21 June 2017). "Saluti romani e un tocco di glamour ecco la nuova strategia di CasaPound". la Repubblica.
  28. Eleonora Vio, "Arrivano i Nazi-Pop", dagospia.com, 26 Jul 2016.
  29. Angela Gennaro (17 October 2017). "Casapound, è la volta di Porro. Scontro su Che Guevara: "Per voi è un modello, ma a me ha rotto le palle per tutta l'infanzia"". il Fatto Quotidiano.
  30. ""Patria, socialismo o muerte". Casa Pound ricorda Chavez: striscioni in 50 città". Blitz. 11 March 2013.
  31. Tom Kington (6 November 2011). "Italy's fascists stay true to Mussolini's ideology". The Guardian.
  32. "Di Stefano: "CasaPound sarà al Family Day, la bandiera arcobaleno si sconfigge col tricolore"". Primato Nazionale. 26 January 2016.
  33. Alessandro Trocino (26 January 2016). "Al Family day anche Casa Pound. Gli organizzatori: non li vogliamo". Corriere della Sera.
  34. Alessandro Capriccioli (8 February 2012). "Roma, Casapound spiazza tutti". l'Espresso.
  35. Marco Zonetti (26 October 2017). "M5s già vecchio: CasaPound è la novità che aspira a entrare in Parlamento". Affari Italiani.it.
  36. Jamie Bartlett; Jonathan Birdwell; Caterina Froio (2012). Populism in Europe: CasaPound (PDF). Demos.
  37. "CasaPound mette alla porta i militanti che non rifiutano antisemitismo e razzismo". FascinAzione. 24 January 2013.
  38. "Casapound, l'intervista a Gianluca Iannone: "Il nostro nemico comune è questa Unione Europea"". Libero. 21 October 2014.
  39. Daniele Di Nunzio; Emanuele Toscano (2011). Dentro e fuori CasaPound: capire il fascismo del terzo millennio. Armando Editore. ISBN 9788860819260.
  40. Antonella Grippo; Giovanni Fasanella (2009). L'orda nera. Bur. ISBN 9788858650455.
  41. Luca Facchini; Alberto Gianera (2 July 2011). "Una nuova destra, giovane e confusa". QuestoTrentino.
  42. ""Saremo pure antisionisti ma non spediamo teste di maiale"". Il Tempo. 29 January 2014.
  43. Corrado Zunino (20 September 2015). "Roma, la strana coppia Hezbollah-Casapound insieme al convegno". la Repubblica.
  44. Pedro Zúquete, José (2018). The Identitarians. "We are not racists, we are not anti-Semitic, we do not have problems with Israel," said Simone Di Stefano, CasaPound's vice president, when its then-political ally Matteo Salvini was denied entry into Israel on the purported basis of his CasaPound connection.
  45. "Israele-migranti, per Di Stefano (CasaPound): "E' colpa delle Ong"". Lo Speciale. 3 April 2018.
  46. "CasaPound, l'orgoglio di Di Stefano: "Siamo fascisti, ammiro Putin"". Libero. 16 November 2017.
  47. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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  50. "Муссолини вместо Берлускони?". Радио Свобода.
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  52. "++ Carabinieri e Gdf a Roma negli uffici della Consip ++ – L'altroquotidiano.it". www.altroquotidiano.it.
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  59. (in Italian) Giuseppe Berretta, "Interrogazione Parlamentare PD contro il Blocco Studentesco" (21 April 2010).
  60. (in Italian) "CasaPound Italia: in 1.500 alla festa nazionale" (21 September 2011). Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  61. "City of Helsinki rented space to neo-Nazi group," YLE News (31.10.2011). Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  62. (in Finnish) Mikael Brunila, "Ei ole yhtä äärioikeistoa - keitä Suomen vastarintaliike kutsui Helsinkiin?," Suomen Kuvalehti (21.10.2011; uptaded: 29 November 2013). Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  63. "Supo looks into possible Finnish connection to Florence shooter," YLE (15.12.2011). Retrieved 14 December 2013.
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