ROMAN BELIEFS AND ITALIAN POLITICS
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From Caesar to Meloni : The Influence of Roman Beliefs on Modern Politics
trength and honour ”. The familiar mantra from Ridley Scott ’ s Gladiator ( 2000 ) epitomises how and why the Romans are romanticised so greatly in contemporary popular culture . The notion of a society so steeped in pride and power that even slaves carry that ethos into gladiatorial combat is impressive . Benito Mussolini used this idea to support his far-right , nationalist agenda and as such , these ideas have trickled through to the present day . However , the Romans were not as glamorous as they appeared and their stance on outsiders is more complex than what it first seems .
The ‘ me ’ in Rome
Roman identity was founded in law , freedom and virtue as they believed these qualities were unique to them , positioning Rome above other civilizations . This selfsuperiority , determination and desire for glory enabled them to expand their empire . Mussolini aimed to channel this during his dictatorship to drive the Italian people into lobal expansion , often referring to “ the glories of the past ” and the “ powerful ” Rome that came before them . In addition , he adopted the eagle , a symbol of Roman strength , as his own . In contrast , the contemporary right uses this idea of Italian superiority to promote fear towards those who are outside of Italy and want to migrate .
By openly using slurs and supporting stereotypes against migrants , modern politicians can support a seemingly historical Italian view of superiority over outsiders . However , the secret to Roman success was their willingness to accept migrants into their way of life . Rome often used foreign peoples , based on recognition of their specific skills . Undoubtedly , Rome was simply being pragmatic in their usage of these peoples , but this approach is still arguably more progressive than the anti-immigration views of modern Italian far-right parties . The Roman superiority and hubris mentioned previously was mainly felt over “ barbarians ”.
Barbarian problem ?
A popular view is that “ barbarian ” was an offensive way of describing anyone who was outside of Rome , yet it was not that simple . Being a barbarian in the eyes of the Romans was about acting in contrast to Roman values , the adherence to which the Romans believed placed them above barbarians . Therefore , a person of any ethnicity could become Roman , provided they acted as such by observing the laws of Rome . A famous ancient historian named Tacitus , writing in the 1st century , quotes Emperor Claudius : “ our founder , Romulus , had such wisdom that he treated many peoples on the same day as enemies , then as citizens . Advenae ( immigrants ) have
governed us ”. Therefore , a barbarian was not simply a derogatory way of describing “ the other ”: it was specific to describing people who refused to live the Roman way of life , rather than a blanket term for foreigners . So , while it remains a problematic term , it is not a rigid one , as Romans welcomed immigrants and even had rulers of “ barbarian ” descent .
Half barbarian , Half Italian – Full Roman
Stilicho was regent of the western Roman Empire from 395 to 408AD , yet was only half Roman . Despite this , because his mother was Roman , he was considered a full Roman citizen , allowing him to rise through society following military success .
In contrast , right-wing parties now aim to use “ fear of replacement ” from other races as a strategy to create anxiety about immigrants taking jobs from Italians , to prevent outsiders from progressing in society . However , Stilicho provides a staunch example of the fluidity of Roman citizenship and evidenced value placed in merit , not just background .
X : @ Matteosalvinimi
M & M
Unfortunately , this section is not focused on sweet treats , rather Mussolini and Meloni . As mentioned previously , Mussolini looked to the past for inspiration with Meloni and other farright parties doing the same . In praise of Mussolini , a young Meloni claimed to French TV that “ everything he did , he did for Italy ” and the vice president of another far-right organisation , CasaPound , called him his “ point of reference ”.
Mussolini ’ s nationalist agenda has flooded into modern politics with phrases such as “ stop the invasion ” and “ Italians first ” becoming frequently used . However , these ideas are based on Mussolini ’ s misunderstanding .
He aimed to follow in the footsteps of Roman beliefs but ignored their complexities . Rome relied on those outside of its borders for it to become great and Mussolini ’ s ignorance of this has created a modern culture of fear , where immigrants are seen as a drain on society – which is far from the truth .
A continued misunderstanding of what it was to be Roman has corrupted what it means to be Italian . However , a deeper look into Roman beliefs about themselves and others shows Mussolini ’ s mistake and calls into question Meloni ’ s perpetuation of this myth .
By Lawrence Gordon // Second Year ; Ancient History
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