Guerra alla guerra! G.E. Modigliani verso il pacifismo di Zimmerwald

ABSTRACT – War to War! G.E. Modigliani towards Zimmerwald Pacifism: a contribution for «Coenobium». In 1914 the choice between patriotism and pacifism was dramatic, both for peace and socialist activists: the call of the country defeated pacifist and antimilitarist stances rooted in previous European history. While the Second International collapsed, the Italian gradualist socialist G.E. Modigliani played a relevant role in the pacifist and Europeanist ranks. At the same time the democratic-socialist Enrico Bignami promoted a campaign against World War I on the prestigious philosophical journal «Coenobium» (printed in Lugano): the most important pacifists gave their contribution to the section Guerra alla guerra! (War to War!). In August, 1914 «Coenobium» published an article by Modigliani asking for an alliance among neutral countries like Italy and Switzerland. However the alliance was not concluded and Italy entered the war. Modigliani was deeply involved in the pacifist Zimmerwald Movement and went on in his commitment as long as he previously predicted and firmly denounced World War II. Bignami was compelled to close Guerra alla guerra! in 1916, but indeed his sensitivity to peace issues place him too among the standardbearers of European pacifism.