Esportare la lingua e la cultura del Belpaese : le scuole italiane all'estero dall'Unità ai primi anni del fascismo (1861-1925)

The contribution examines the history of Italian schools abroad from the Unification to the early years of Fascism. The article intends to highlight the characteristics of the first initiatives aimed at teaching Italian language and culture within the colonial nuclei by outlining the evolution of the directions and choices of liberal policy makers, first, and then fascist policy makers, regarding schooling in colonial and migratory contexts. The article intends to highlight, thus, the elements of continuity and discontinuity that characterised the orientations and interventions of the Italian ruling classes and the initiatives of the colonial nuclei, of secular and religious associations on the scholastic side for the defense and promotion of Italianness. But it also proposes to recall some of the problematic issues that accompanied the development of Italian schools abroad in the face of the changes that marked the international geopolitical framework with the consequent tensions of a nationalist nature and the mass migratory movements over the sixty-five years following the unification of Italy.