An Italian Eulogy to Secrecy

This chapter delves into the historical roots and fundamental doctrinal aspects of Traditionalism. The two primary tenets of Traditionalism are the conviction of the crisis in the modern world and the belief in an ageless, primordial, and pristine Tradition as a refuge from this crisis. Guénon (d. 1951) is regarded as the forefather of this movement, attracting intellectuals worldwide. Italian scholars, including Arturo Reghini (d. 1946), Guido De Giorgio (d. 1957), and Julius Evola (d. 1974), engaged with Guénon’s teachings. They paraphrased and commented on his works, with Evola making the most significant contributions. However, Evola, despite being influenced by Guénon, arrived at least three discrepant conclusions concerning the relationship between religions and Tradition, the solution to the modern world’s crisis, and the interpretation of the East-West divide. For Evola, the crisis extended beyond the West (as proposed by Guénon) to encompass the entire modern world. Before modernity’s crisis, the West and the East exchanged valuable Traditional components, requiring retrieval and rehabilitation for the establishment of a spiritual empire. This envisioned empire would be led by a warrior-king, divided into castes, and governed by Traditional principles. Evola believed the correct response to the crisis was not mere contemplation but active engagement through political activism and militancy. His militant Traditionalism generated sympathy with the fascist regime, but his relationship with it was ambiguous. His elitism and spiritual inclinations were considered utopian and disregarded by the dominant fascism of the time. Moreover, Evola’s aversion to the Church strained his ties with Mussolini, who had reached an agreement with the Church. Consequently, Evola remained isolated, and his utopian vision went unrealized. After World War II, with the decline of militant fascism, spiritual fascism came to the forefront in Traditionalist circles, leading to a resurgence of Evola’s popularity. His visions of a hierarchical, supranational, and Traditional society inspired the youth and revitalized Italian neo-fascism.