The Ventotene Moment – justice, liberty, and European federalism in the political thought of Third Force socialism (1929-1954)

How did Italian antifascist exiles seek to reconcile socialist and federalist ideals to envision a revolutionary reorganization of Europe between the interwar and early postwar periods? What significance does the Second World War hold in the evolution of this ideological and political enterprise? This thesis investigates how Italian socialist “heretics” articulated a vision for an antitotalitarian “Third Force” Europe predicated on radical democracy and a socialist economy. Central to this analysis is the Ventotene Manifesto (1941), authored by Altiero Spinelli and Ernesto Rossi, which called for the abolition of national sovereignty and the establishment of the United States of Europe. By tracing the Manifesto’s ideological roots in the interwar period, particularly through the influence of Giustizia e Libertà and figures like Carlo Rosselli, the research explores how the Italian exiles sought to transcend both fascism and Stalinist communism while navigating the tension between revolutionary elitism and democratic aspirations. The Second World War emerges as a decisive catalyst, giving rise to what this study identifies as the “Ventotene Moment:” a unique convergence of ideological ferment and political opportunity that enabled the refinement of their federalist-socialist vision. By recovering this neglected political tradition, the study sheds light on an overlooked chapter of European federalist thought and reflects on its complex legacy in relation to European integration.