One of the most prominent figures among Albanians in Italy, following the era of Francesco Crispi, was Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937). His influence as a philosopher, politician, journalist, linguist, and literary critic left an indelible mark on 20th-century Italian intellectual life. Gramsci’s ancestors hailed from the city of Gramsh in Albania, and his legacy continues to resonate in Italy and beyond.
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| Picture of Antionio Gramsci |
Gramsci’s contributions were immense, but they were not without controversy. Alongside Crispi, he remains a towering figure among Albanian-Italians who shaped Italian intellectual and political thought in the 19th and 20th centuries. Due to their political beliefs, however, both men remain polarizing figures in Italy. For some, they are untouchable icons; for others, their legacies are contested and often neglected.
The Founding of the Italian Communist Party
In 1921, Antonio Gramsci was a founding member of the Italian Communist Party (PCI) and became its Secretary in August 1924. That same year, he established the influential newspaper *L'Unità*. However, his political activities soon made him a target of Mussolini’s fascist regime. Despite his parliamentary immunity, Gramsci was arrested in 1926 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. His only “crime” was his outspoken opposition to the regime and his advocacy for free thought.
To ensure his imprisonment, the fascist Special Court bypassed legal norms and retroactively applied a new law specifically designed to target political dissenters like Gramsci. This blatant disregard for justice reflected the regime’s desperation to silence him.
Albanian Pride and Heritage
Although Gramsci was ideologically a committed internationalist, he was deeply proud of his Albanian roots. In a letter from his prison cell in Turi, Puglia, dated October 12, 1931, he wrote to his sister-in-law Tatiana Schucht: “My father is of Albanian origin… Essentially, that is my world. The fact that I was of Albanian descent was not an issue since Francesco Crispi was also Albanian, educated in an Albanian college.” This acknowledgment highlights Gramsci’s connection to his heritage and the profound impact it had on his worldview.
A Courageous Voice Against Fascism
Gramsci’s defiance of Mussolini’s regime was epitomized in his reaction to the assassination of the socialist deputy Giacomo Matteotti. Writing in *L'Unità*, he boldly declared, “Down with the government of murderers,” a statement that sealed his fate. This year marks the centenary of Matteotti’s assassination, an event that shook Italy in the 1920s. While the Italian government and parliament have rightly commemorated this tragedy, one must ask: should the systematic persecution and eventual death of Gramsci also be officially acknowledged as a state crime? After all, he was a democratically elected representative imprisoned and ultimately destroyed for daring to warn Italians of the impending disaster under fascist rule.
The Final Years
By 1934, Gramsci’s health had deteriorated significantly due to the harsh conditions of his imprisonment. He was granted conditional release and transferred to a clinic in Rome, where he spent the last years of his life. Despite international pressure for his release, Gramsci’s health worsened, and he died in 1937, officially due to a cerebral hemorrhage. He was only 46 years old. However, lingering questions remain about the true cause of his death. Was it natural, or was he poisoned by a regime desperate to eliminate one of its fiercest critics? Unfortunately, no thorough investigation has ever been conducted to uncover the truth. Perhaps the time has come to revisit this dark chapter of history.
A Legacy of Sacrifice
Antonio Gramsci gave everything he had to Italy and its people, sacrificing his life in the process. His intellectual brilliance and unwavering commitment to justice brought honor to both Italy and his ancestral homeland, Albania.
In closing, I, Alban Kraja, dedicate this brief account to an extraordinary Albanian-Italian who left an indelible legacy. May his life and work continue to inspire future generations.
With my warm regards, I wish you all the best.
Alban Kraja