L’ “indimenticabile” 1956 e la sinistra italiana. Il dibattito socialista tra centro e periferia

Abstract

This essay examines the internal debate within the Italian Socialist Party (Psi) in 1956, a crucial year for both Italian and international politics. Through detailed analysis, the work compares the discussions taking place at the party's top levels with those occurring at its grassroots. The year 1956 was marked by significant events such as de-Stalinization and the Hungarian Revolution, which profoundly impacted the internal dynamics of the entire Italian left. At the top of the Socialist Party, leaders were divided between loyalty to united action with the communists and the necessity of giving socialism a new political dimension. Meanwhile, at the grassroots level, party members, voters, and local leaders expressed practical and ideological concerns, often reflecting the daily tensions within the Italian left at the time. This essay, based on newspaper articles, party documents, and letters from the Psi's grassroots, seeks to provide a comprehensive view of the differences and similarities between the positions of the party's central leadership and its grassroots, contributing to a more complete understanding of the internal dynamics of this party during one of the most tumultuous periods in its history.