Marcus Tullius Cicero and the Fascist Romanità
1
Akademia Kultury
Społecznej i Medialnej w Toruniu
Publication date: 2026-07-21
Studia Politologiczne 2026;81
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
In fascist doctrine, the myth of Romanità held a significant place. This myth also
had a legal and constitutional dimension, linked to the regime’s specific interpretation of
Roman history and used to legitimize the fascist order. It seems that it was precisely this
legal and constitutional dimension that determined Cicero’s place and significance in the
fascist projection of the myth of Romanità. Cicero, always considered the embodiment of
the republic, could not enjoy any particular reverence in a system primarily inspired by the Empire. An emperor with full power based on force provided a better resource for the
totalitarian regime to develop and build desired analogies than the Roman Republic with
its tradition of freedom, civic self-government, respect for the common good, and civic
virtues. Mussolini’s political position, and at the same time the statolatry so characteristic
of the fascist regime with the subordination of the citizen to the state, were in contradiction
with Cicero’s philosophical and political reflection.
PEER REVIEW INFORMATION
Article has been screened for originality
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| ISSN: | 1640-8888 |
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