Livio Maitan
Encyclopedia
Livio Maitan was an Italian
Trotskyist
, a leader of Associazione Bandiera Rossa
and of the Fourth International
. He was born in Venice
.
(lettere classiche) from the University of Padua
, and became politically active during the years of the Nazi
occupation of Italy, and was subsequently a leading member of the Italian Socialist Youth. In 1947 he joined the Fourth International
, of which he was a leading member from 1951 throughout his life. In 1948 he was a member of the leadership of the Fronte Democrazia Popolare.
Maitan was one of a small group of colleagues who led the Fourth International
during the difficult years of the 1950s and early 1960s. First elected in 1951, he remained a member of the International leadership, reelected at each congress, until his death. Critics of the Fourth International talked about the “Mandel
-Frank
-Maitan” leadership of the FI, following the departure of Michel Pablo
.
His generation were the cadres who continued as revolutionary Marxists
through the post-World War II
years, and who were gradually able to connect their vision with the young activists in the mid- and late 1960s. Maitan was actively involved in the large-scale student movement in Italy between 1969 and 1976, and widely seen as the main inspiration for leaders of the Italian revolutionary left, whether inside the Fourth International or outside.
In the 1970s he also lectured on the economy of underdevelopment
in the School of Sociology at the University of Rome
. He translated and introduced almost all the Italian
editions of Leon Trotsky
’s writings.
In 1989 the Italian Fourth Internationalists organised around Lega Comunista Rivoluzionaria, which joined Democrazia Proletaria, and with DP participated in 1991 in the foundation of the Communist Refoundation Party
, PRC. He was elected to the leadership of the PRC at each successive Congress from 1991 until 2002.
Until just before his death, he maintained his participation in all the leadership bodies of the FI. A football fanatic, he played weekly until into his seventies.
Cultural Revolution
and a long text on the history of the Italian Communist Party
, published by the International Institute for Research and Education
in English and French. In 2002 he wrote "Per una storia della Quarta Internazionale" (Rome, ed. Alegre), history of the Fourth International.
He wrote also for the journals of the Italian Fourth Internationalists (Bandiera Rossa and subsequently ERRE), of Rifondazione (Liberazione
) and of the Fourth International, Inprecor
and International Viewpoint
.
In a late publication (La strada percorsa - "The road taken"), Maitan argued strongly against the view that the defeats of socialism
in the 20th Century were "inevitable", and equally strongly for the view that the possibility of Socialism remains open.
In 2007 the Livio Maitan Study Centre was set up in Rome
with the support of a large number of academics, including Gilbert Achcar
, Daniel Bensaïd
, Tariq Ali
, Alex Callinicos
, Claudio Katz, Michael Löwy
and Slavoj Žižek
.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Trotskyist
Trotskyism
Trotskyism is the theory of Marxism as advocated by Leon Trotsky. Trotsky considered himself an orthodox Marxist and Bolshevik-Leninist, arguing for the establishment of a vanguard party of the working-class...
, a leader of Associazione Bandiera Rossa
Bandiera Rossa Association (Italy)
The Bandiera Rossa Association is an association of members of the Critical Left party in Italy. Politically it is Trotskyist and is the Italian affiliate of the United Secretariat of the Fourth International . Bandiera Rossa is a left wing current...
and of the Fourth International
Fourth International
The Fourth International is the communist international organisation consisting of followers of Leon Trotsky , with the declared dedicated goal of helping the working class bring about socialism...
. He was born in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
.
Life and career
He graduated in ClassicsClassics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
(lettere classiche) from the University of Padua
University of Padua
The University of Padua is a premier Italian university located in the city of Padua, Italy. The University of Padua was founded in 1222 as a school of law and was one of the most prominent universities in early modern Europe. It is among the earliest universities of the world and the second...
, and became politically active during the years of the Nazi
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
occupation of Italy, and was subsequently a leading member of the Italian Socialist Youth. In 1947 he joined the Fourth International
Fourth International
The Fourth International is the communist international organisation consisting of followers of Leon Trotsky , with the declared dedicated goal of helping the working class bring about socialism...
, of which he was a leading member from 1951 throughout his life. In 1948 he was a member of the leadership of the Fronte Democrazia Popolare.
Maitan was one of a small group of colleagues who led the Fourth International
Fourth International
The Fourth International is the communist international organisation consisting of followers of Leon Trotsky , with the declared dedicated goal of helping the working class bring about socialism...
during the difficult years of the 1950s and early 1960s. First elected in 1951, he remained a member of the International leadership, reelected at each congress, until his death. Critics of the Fourth International talked about the “Mandel
Ernest Mandel
Ernest Ezra Mandel, also known by various pseudonyms such as Ernest Germain, Pierre Gousset, Henri Vallin, Walter , was a revolutionary Marxist theorist.-Life:...
-Frank
Pierre Frank
Pierre Frank was a French Trotskyist leader. He served on the secretariat of the Fourth International from 1948 to 1979....
-Maitan” leadership of the FI, following the departure of Michel Pablo
Michel Pablo
Michel Pablo was the pseudonym of Michalis N. Raptis , a Trotskyist leader of Greek origin.- Early activism :...
.
His generation were the cadres who continued as revolutionary Marxists
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
through the post-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
years, and who were gradually able to connect their vision with the young activists in the mid- and late 1960s. Maitan was actively involved in the large-scale student movement in Italy between 1969 and 1976, and widely seen as the main inspiration for leaders of the Italian revolutionary left, whether inside the Fourth International or outside.
In the 1970s he also lectured on the economy of underdevelopment
Underdevelopment
Underdevelopment is a term often used to refer to economic underdevelopment, symptoms of which include lack of access to job opportunities, health care, drinkable water, food, education and housing...
in the School of Sociology at the University of Rome
University of Rome La Sapienza
The Sapienza University of Rome, officially Sapienza – Università di Roma, formerly known as Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza", is a coeducational, autonomous state university in Rome, Italy...
. He translated and introduced almost all the Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
editions of Leon Trotsky
Leon Trotsky
Leon Trotsky , born Lev Davidovich Bronshtein, was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and theorist, Soviet politician, and the founder and first leader of the Red Army....
’s writings.
In 1989 the Italian Fourth Internationalists organised around Lega Comunista Rivoluzionaria, which joined Democrazia Proletaria, and with DP participated in 1991 in the foundation of the Communist Refoundation Party
Communist Refoundation Party
The Communist Refoundation Party is a communist Italian political party. Its current secretary is Paolo Ferrero....
, PRC. He was elected to the leadership of the PRC at each successive Congress from 1991 until 2002.
Until just before his death, he maintained his participation in all the leadership bodies of the FI. A football fanatic, he played weekly until into his seventies.
Works
There is a long list of his publications in Italian. Translated works include his 1976 book on the ChinesePeople's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
and a long text on the history of the Italian Communist Party
Italian Communist Party
The Italian Communist Party was a communist political party in Italy.The PCI was founded as Communist Party of Italy on 21 January 1921 in Livorno, by seceding from the Italian Socialist Party . Amadeo Bordiga and Antonio Gramsci led the split. Outlawed during the Fascist regime, the party played...
, published by the International Institute for Research and Education
International Institute for Research and Education
The International Institute for Research and Education is a research and educational centre based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. It conducts training and publishes research for and by progressive activists around the world....
in English and French. In 2002 he wrote "Per una storia della Quarta Internazionale" (Rome, ed. Alegre), history of the Fourth International.
He wrote also for the journals of the Italian Fourth Internationalists (Bandiera Rossa and subsequently ERRE), of Rifondazione (Liberazione
Liberazione
Liberazione is Italian for liberation. It may refer to:* Liberation Day , April 25, the anniversary of the 1945 fall of Mussolini's Italian Social Republic; a public holiday in Italy....
) and of the Fourth International, Inprecor
Inprecor
Inprecor is a multilingual monthly Marxist magazine published by the reunified Fourth International. Its name is a contraction of International Press Correspondence and indicates that the magazine translates articles and letters from revolutionaries around the world.Inprecor was established by the...
and International Viewpoint
International Viewpoint
International Viewpoint is the English-language edition of the monthly magazine of the reunified Fourth International. It focuses on translating articles into English written by socialists in other languages. Its ISSN is 0294-2925....
.
In a late publication (La strada percorsa - "The road taken"), Maitan argued strongly against the view that the defeats of socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
in the 20th Century were "inevitable", and equally strongly for the view that the possibility of Socialism remains open.
In 2007 the Livio Maitan Study Centre was set up in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
with the support of a large number of academics, including Gilbert Achcar
Gilbert Achcar
Gilbert Achcar is a Lebanese academic, writer, socialist and antiwar activist. He lived in Lebanon until moving to France in 1983. He taught politics and international relations at the University of Paris VIII until 2003, when he took up a position at the Marc Bloch Centre in Berlin...
, Daniel Bensaïd
Daniel Bensaïd
Daniel Bensaïd was a philosopher and a leader of the Trotskyist movement in France. He became a leading figure in the student revolt of 1968, while studying at the University of Paris X: Nanterre.- Life and career :...
, Tariq Ali
Tariq Ali
Tariq Ali , , is a British Pakistani military historian, novelist, journalist, filmmaker, public intellectual, political campaigner, activist, and commentator...
, Alex Callinicos
Alex Callinicos
Alexander Theodore Callinicos is a Trotskyist political theorist, a member of the Central Committee of the Socialist Workers Party and its International Secretary, and is Director of the Centre for European Studies at King's College London...
, Claudio Katz, Michael Löwy
Michael Löwy
Michael Löwy is a French-Brazilian Marxist sociologist and philosopher. He is presently the emeritus research director in social sciences at the CNRS and lectures at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales...
and Slavoj Žižek
Slavoj Žižek
Slavoj Žižek is a Slovenian philosopher, critical theorist working in the traditions of Hegelianism, Marxism and Lacanian psychoanalysis. He has made contributions to political theory, film theory, and theoretical psychoanalysis....
.