Today's interview is with Professor Luigi Musella, author of a biography on Craxi (Salerno Editrice. 2007) and teaches Contemporary History at the University of Naples "Federico II".
Craxi as a politician was one of the main figures in the history of republican Italy, however, there are few biographies and studies that have dealt with him. In your opinion, what is this due to? How much is this lack of studies influenced by the way in which Craxi's political affair ended?
Certainly in Italy there has always been a link between politics and historiography. Somehow historians have always believed that the object of the research was representative of their own political inclination. There is no doubt, therefore, that Craxi is still charged with the values that his political end has attributed to him.
-What was the context in which young Craxi was trained and what role did his father play in his education?
Craxi was formed in a political climate that attached a lot of weight to ideology. The story of the father had a great influence, especially for his relations with the PCI, considered a party that is not very democratic and oppressive towards the PSI. It is also clear that his membership in the PSI was part of a strong family tradition.
-Craxi's ascent to the PSI secretariat took place at a particular moment, that is when the center-left government formula was over and in the phase in which we began to talk about a historical compromise. What was the internal situation of the PSI when Craxi became party secretary?
The PSI was emerging from a heavy electoral defeat. Then a political cycle that required a generational change had ended. De Martino and Mancini were, in some ways, at the end of their national leadership. Craxi seemed to many a transitory solution. He underestimated the character of the leader, who fought a lot in the following years to assert his domination of him.
-How did Craxi try to dialogue with the DC, avoiding a return to the experience of the center-left?
In reality Craxi tried to assert a new role for the PSI. Between the DC and the PCI he believed that the PSI should assert its centrality and necessity for the formation of a majority. Therefore, despite the small electoral weight, the socialists should have aimed at their own indispensability. The center-left, according to Craxi, had only ended up exhausting the socialists, used instrumentally by the DC.
-During the kidnapping of Aldo Moro, Craxi first supported the line of firmness, then the line of negotiations, what were the reasons that led to this change?
Craxi was more of a skilled tactician than a strategist. His choice of Moro served to enhance the PSI in a somewhat lonely position, but one that could repay it in terms of consensus.
-In the final part of the book he writes about a very close relationship between Craxi and Cossiga, was this relationship already present even when the two held institutional positions?
Yes.
-An important aspect to understand Craxi and his political experience is that of his anticommunism, in what political and cultural context did his anticommunism mature, which will characterize his entire political story?
Craxi's anti-communism was decided right from his first experiences in Sesto S. Giovanni. Then there were the youth travels to Eastern countries. He considered the PCI to be an undemocratic party within itself and a party that wanted to impose a dictatorship on the country. Then, mindful of his father’s political experience, he absolutely did not believe in an alliance between the PCI and the PSI. According to him, the Communists only wanted to dominate the other left parties.
-One of the most studied episodes of Craxi's political experience is the one that happened to Sigonella. In what international context did this story develop?
Craxi has always believed that Italy should have a crucial role in the Mediterranean and has always had a good relationship with the Mediterranean countries. His harmony with Arafat is well known. Although this policy of his often found a favorable side in many Christian Democrats. Sigonella was the reaffirmation of the autonomy of Italy especially towards the United States.