L’ eredità e l’attualità delle riforme scolastiche di Kunó Klebelsberg. L’introduzione dell’insegnamento della lingua italiana nell’istruzione pubblica ungherese

Abstract

One of the most significant periods in the history of Italian-Hungarian relations can be traced back to the 1920s. Following the First World War, Hungary found itself in a state of severe economic weakness and political isolation. To address this situation, the Prime Minister at the time, István Bethlen, launched a foreign policy aimed at seeking new strategic allies. In this context, Italy was identified as a potential privileged partner, thus initiating a process of gradual diplomatic rapprochement between the two countries. A central figure of this period was Kunó Klebelsberg, Minister of Culture and an influential actor in Hungarian politics at the time. A great connoisseur of the Italian language and culture, Klebelsberg traveled to Rome in 1927 with the aim of preparing for Bethlen’s official visit to Italy. On that occasion, the minister also took the opportunity to present the reform program of the entire Hungarian school system, which he had promoted, and in which the introduction of the Italian language into public education held a particularly important role. This study aims to analyze the key guidelines of Klebelsberg’s educational policy, the initial steps taken to introduce Italian language teaching into the Hungarian school system, as well as the main elements of the speech he delivered at the University of Rome in 1927.