Italian Fascism in the Nordic Countries (1919-1945)

Book presentation and discussion with the author Fabio Ferrarini, University of Oslo/University of Milan, and discussant Morten Heiberg, University of Copenhagen

The book Italian Fascism in the Nordic Countries (1919-1945) explores the transnational dynamics of Italian fascism and its reception in the Nordic countries from the foundation of Mussolini’s Fasci di Combattimento (Combat Fasces) in 1919 to the onset of the Second World War. Although Italian fascism found fertile ground among far right movements and organisations in the Nordics, reactions varied significantly across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. The Element emphasises the ideological influence of the March on Rome and highlights how the Nordic far right drew inspiration from Mussolini’s regime while also adapting to local contexts.

By examining the intricate connections between Nordic and Italian fascisms, this Element aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the complexities of fascism’s international appeal, illustrating how local political situations shaped the diverse expressions of fascism in the region and the interplay between fascist ideologies and anti-Bolshevism.

The event will be held in English, everyone is welcome, and no registration is required.

Bios

Fabio Ferrarini

Fabio Ferrarini holds a PhD in History, Culture and Theories of Society and Institutions. In 2022, after contributing to the creation of Italy’s National Museum of Resistance, he was a Young Research Fellow at C-REX (Centre for Research on Extremism) at the University of Oslo. He has participated in the Radical-Norm project with the Norwegian Centre for Holocaust and Minority Studies, funded by the Research Council of Norway, and is currently an adjunct professor of contemporary history at the University of Milan.

His research explores the cultural and ideological impact of totalitarian regimes, particularly Fascism and Nazism in the Nordic countries, and the role of the arts, especially music and aesthetics, in far-right movements. Among his most important publications are: “Fascist Italy and the Scramble for the Arctic: The International Polar Exhibition and Italian Polar Interests in the Interwar Years”, Acta Borealia (2023); “The Impact of the March on Rome in the Nordic Countries: The Ideological Dilemma between ‘Black’ and ‘Red’ Revolutions”, in The Global Impact of the March on Rome, ed. G. Albanese, F. Focardi, M. Millan, M. Mondini (2026); and Italian Fascism in the Nordic Countries (1919–1945), Cambridge University Press (2026).

Morten Heiberg

Discussant Morten Heiberg is professor of Spanish Studies at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. He is an internationally recognized expert on Fascism and author of ten books, including several titles on fascism, but also related topics like the Spanish Civil War and the Cold War. He is an appointed member of the Royal Danish Academy and was awarded the Research Prize of Her Majesty Queen Margaret II of Denmark in 2018.