Crime and the fascist state, 1850–1940

By studying the development of Italy's penal system, Pires Marques provides valuable insights into the wider political culture of European society. Focusing on the rise of fascism in Spain and Portugal as well as Italy, he examines the role of religious, economic and political factors in the making of penal laws. He shows that, from the late nineteenth century, Italy led the way in instigating penal reform as a political tool to impose law and order on an increasingly urban society.-- 1 The Science of Crime -- 2 Italy and the Universality of Repression -- 3 Fascism as Social Defence -- 4 A New Space of Repression -- 5 Earthly Hells and Purgatories -- ConclusionPublished version of EUI PhD thesis, 200