TY - JOUR
T1 - War veterans, demobilization and political activism
T2 - Greater Romania in comparison
AU - Iordachi, Constantin
AU - Sciarrino, Blasco
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Iordachi and Sciarrino, 2017.
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - This article aims to further problematize the relationship between patterns of demobilization, fascism and veterans' activism, on several inter-related counts. We argue that the relationship between fascism and war veterans was not a fixed nexus, but the outcome of a complex political constellation of socio-economic and political factors that necessitates a case-by-case in-depth discussion. Also, we argue that these factors were both national and transnational in nature. Finally, we contend that researchers need to employ a synchronic as well as a diachronic perspective, thus accounting for various stages and forms of mobilization of war veterans over time. To substantiate these claims, the current article focuses on a relevant but largely neglected case study: the demobilization of soldiers and war veterans' political activism in interwar Romania. It is argued that, contrary to assumptions in historiography, demobilization in Romania was initially successful. Veterans' mobilization to fascism intensified only in mid-to late 1930s, stimulated by the Great Depression, leading to a growing ideological polarization and the political ascension of the fascist Legion of 'Archangel Michael'. To better grasp the specificities of this case study, the concluding section of the article compares it to patterns of veterans' activism in postwar Italy.
AB - This article aims to further problematize the relationship between patterns of demobilization, fascism and veterans' activism, on several inter-related counts. We argue that the relationship between fascism and war veterans was not a fixed nexus, but the outcome of a complex political constellation of socio-economic and political factors that necessitates a case-by-case in-depth discussion. Also, we argue that these factors were both national and transnational in nature. Finally, we contend that researchers need to employ a synchronic as well as a diachronic perspective, thus accounting for various stages and forms of mobilization of war veterans over time. To substantiate these claims, the current article focuses on a relevant but largely neglected case study: the demobilization of soldiers and war veterans' political activism in interwar Romania. It is argued that, contrary to assumptions in historiography, demobilization in Romania was initially successful. Veterans' mobilization to fascism intensified only in mid-to late 1930s, stimulated by the Great Depression, leading to a growing ideological polarization and the political ascension of the fascist Legion of 'Archangel Michael'. To better grasp the specificities of this case study, the concluding section of the article compares it to patterns of veterans' activism in postwar Italy.
KW - Demobilization
KW - Fascism
KW - First World War
KW - Iron Guard
KW - Italy
KW - Radicalization
KW - Romania
KW - War veterans
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85021823159&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1163/22116257-00601004
DO - 10.1163/22116257-00601004
M3 - Review Article
AN - SCOPUS:85021823159
SN - 2211-6249
VL - 6
SP - 75
EP - 117
JO - Fascism
JF - Fascism
IS - 1
ER -