Crises and Conversions

In the aftermath of WWII, Italian Traditionalist circles underwent two distinct crises. Among conservative groups, Vatican II and the 1968 protests were perceived as symptoms of a significant setback for the Church and traditional authorities in their struggle against modernity. For those affiliated with the former fascist regime, the religious crisis was accompanied by an ideological one. Divergent viewpoints on how Muslims fought against colonialism and U.S. imperialism led to divisions among neo-fascist factions. Fascism could no longer mobilize mass movements, primarily due to diminished credibility and legal constraints. As a result, various and often contradictory directions were explored in the fight against Bolshevism, with some neo-fascists championing Muslims’ anti-colonial struggles. Within neo-fascist and Traditionalist circles, Khomeini’s campaign to establish the Islamic state was viewed as an ideal middle ground between capitalism and communism. The success of the Iranian Revolution was hailed as concrete evidence that Julius Evola’s utopian ideas could be realized. Consequently, certain segments of Italian neo-fascism, particularly the more intransigent and Evolian groups, welcomed the Islamic revolution. Iranian Student Associations in Rome and Perugia played a significant role in disseminating the message of the nascent revolution to Italy through activism and publications. They reinforced beliefs in the possibility of an anti-modern and spiritual state in Iran. Interaction with these students marked the beginning of conversions to Shiʿism in Italy, occurring in the late 1970s. Some sympathizers of extraparlamentary far-right organizations established Shiʿa places of worship and cultural associations, initially in Naples and later in Rome and Trieste. The Iranian revolution not only provided a solution to the political crisis within neo-fascism but also addressed the existential crisis faced by spiritually inclined individuals and groups. Italian Traditionalists perceived the revolution as a spiritual reawakening among Iranians, making it appealing to those interested in hidden wisdom and esoteric visions. The esoteric aspects of Shiʿism, including the belief in a direct connection with the omnipresent Hidden Imam and fantastical narratives about the Imams and their divine nature, captivated many newcomers.